Stool Culture

Last Modified: 2/7/2024 6:58:55 AM


Medical Necessity Documentation:  
Client Notes: No more than 2 specimens per patient will be accepted with out prior consultation. 
Patient Preparation:  
Specimen Requirements:

Fecal eSwab
Collection Instructions: 1. Urine should not contaminate the specimen
2. Collect Fecal specimen in commode hat or plain clean container
  • Open Fecal eSwab package. Loosen cap and stand culture tube on flat surface or hold in nondominant hand.
  • Grasp swab above pink breakpoint line. Insert swab end into stool, specifically any mucoidal or bloody or liquid areas, coating swab. DO NOT SCOOP OR ADD ADDITIONAL STOOL.
  • Insert swab into culture tube, ensuring that liquid is NOT above black fill line. If liquid is above black fill line, discard sample and begin with a fresh kit.
  • Cap securely and shake well. 
  • Stool must be in media within 1 hour of collection


For patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
For patient collection instruction sheet Spanish see Addendum D
For patient collection instruction sheet Burmese see Addendum D
For patient collection instruction sheet Arabic see Addendum D
Transport & Storage: Temperature/Stability: Upreserved Specimen
1 hour Ambient

Inoculated Fecal eSwab
48 hours Refrigerated
Reference Range: Growth of normal enteric flora
Critical Ranges:  
Test Comments: Consider C. difficile testing as an alternative to routine microbiologic studies for inpatients over 6 months of age who have test requests for routine enteric pathogens with clinically significant diarrhea and a history of antibiotic exposure.
Methodology: Manual
Clinical Significance:

For detection of E. Coli 0157, Campylobacter,Salmonella, Shiga Toxin, and Shigella 
Documentation: If you are requesting a Gastrointestinal Panel (GI Panel) - GIBIO do not order this test as it is a duplication of part of the panel.

If no yersinia culture is needed – order CXSTO.

If requesting culture for Vibrio – testing will be sent to Quest.

Custom Panel: No

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Turn Around Time: 48 hours
Days Performed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Sites Performed: Parkview Regional Medical Center
PHL Test Code: CXSTO
EPIC Test Code: LAB223
Alternate Test Names: Culture, Stool; Enteric Culture
Included Tests:
Campylobacter; E. Coli 0157; Salmonella; Shiga toxin; Shigella
CPT Coding: 87045, 87046 x 2, 87427 (Reflexes 87077, 87186)

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