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Test Code Lab Orderable Only Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile Toxin, Enzyme Immunoassay, Stool

Important Note

  • This test is a reflexed test only that is auto ordered by the lab from a positive C. difficile result from the Expanded Infectious Stool Panel (LAB5043), Standard Infectious Stool Panel (LAB3722), and Clostridioides difficile PCR (LAB4412).
  • A negative result for the C. difficile Toxin EIA after a positive result from the molecular test may indicate that the C. difficile identified in the sample may be a colonizing form of the bacteria, or the toxin levels are too low for the EIA to detect.
Infectious

Additional Codes

Sunquest: SCDEI

Collection

Patient Preparation:

  • Patient should avoid anti-diarrheal medication prior to testing.
  • Specimen should not come in contact with urine or toilet water during collection.
  • Collect into a sterile, air-tight container.

Specimen Type:

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

  • Acceptable: Raw stool in a sterile collection container.

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

Minimum Volume:

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

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).
  • Specimen does not meet collection, storage, or transport requirements.

Specimen Stability

Ambient: 

  • Raw Stool- 1 hour
  • Cary Blair C&S media- 5 days.

Refrigerated: 

  • Raw Stool- 1 hour
  • Cary Blair C&S media- 5 days.

Frozen: Unacceptable

Reference Ranges

C. difficile Toxin: Not Detected

Method Name

Enzyme Immunoassay

Performing Laboratory

UnityPoint Health Trinity Rock Island, IL 

 

Day(s) Performed:

  • Sunday-Saturday

Analytical Time:

  • 1-2 hours after molecular test has resulted.

CPT Codes

87324