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Test Code Epic LAB4412 Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, PCR, Stool

Important Note

Zinc oxide paste and Vagisil cream have shown inhibition to test and may cause invalid results.

Positive test results will auto-reflex a C. difficile Toxin EIA test.

Specimen must be diarrheal stool (Must be liquid enough to take the shape of the container it is in).

Infectious

Additional Codes

Sunquest: SCDMOL

Performing Laboratory

UPH Trinity Rock Island

Patient Preparation

Patient should avoid anti-diarrheal medications prior to testing.

Specimen should not come in contact with urine or toilet water during collection.

Collect into sterile, air tight container.

Specimen Type

Preferred: Stool placed in Cary Blair Para-Pak C&S media.

Acceptable: Raw stool in sterile collection container.

*Stool must be placed in Cary Blair Para-Pak C&S media within 1 hour of collection.

Specimen Stability

Ambient:

  • Raw Stool-1 hour
  • Cary Blair Stool- 5 days

Refrigerated

  • Raw Stool-1 hour
  • Cary Blair Stool- 5 days

Frozen: Unacceptable

Minimum Volume

Stool must be able to fill Cary Blair Para-Pak C&S media vial up to red line. (5mL of raw stool)

Reference Range

Not Detected

Day(s) Performed

Sunday-Saturday

CPT Codes

87493

Reject Due To

Stool not in Cary Blair C&S media within 1 hour.

Cary Blair media over or under filled.

Formed stool (non-diarrheal)

Method/Test Name

Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

Cepheid Xpert C. difficile/Epi

Report Available

2-4 hours upon receipt at testing lab.