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Clostridium Difficile

Last Modified: 4/12/2012 10:00:38 AM


Client Notes: Only one specimen per 7 days should be submitted. No "Test of Cure" samples should be submitted.
Patient Preparation: No barium within 24 hours of sample collection.
Specimen Requirements: 5.0 mL unformed Feces in a Non-Sterile Yellow Capped Container
Collection Instructions: Stool samples should be refrigerated as soon as possible after collection.

For patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D 
For Spanish patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
For Burmese patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL Feces
Transport & Storage: Temperature/Stability:

< 24 hours Ambient
5 days Refrigerated

If testing cannot be done within 5 days of collection, sample should be frozen as soon as possible after collection.
Reference Range: Negative for toxigenic Clostridium difficile by DNA Amplification.
Test Comments: 95% Sensitivity and Specificify as compared to toxigenic C. difficile culture.
Methodology: DNA Amplification
Clinical Significance: Clostridium difficile infection is a serious disease causing diarrhea, colitis, and even pseudomembranous colitis that develops as a result of antibiotic treatment.  It may also occur due to nosocomial transmission.  Recently, community acquired infections have been found with patients who have not received antibiotics.  It is important that true cases be identified quickly to allow treatment which will prevent serious sequelae for the patient and possible nosocomial transmission.
Documentation:

Infectious Diseases Society America (IDSA) 2010 Clinical Practice Guidelines 

1. Due to the higher sensitivity, one specimen will be tested in a 7 day period. There is no longer a clinical need for testing X 3.   
2. Patients must be symptomatic. Only specimens that conform to the container shape will be tested. Formed stool specimens will be rejected. 
3. No "test of cure" specimens should be submitted.  Patients may remain positive for long periods without symptoms.
4. This test is not FDA approved for colonoscopy specimens. Specimens collected during colonoscopies will be sent to a referral laboratory for testing.
Custom Panel: No

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Turn Around Time: 8 to 12 hours
Days Performed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Sites Performed: Parkview Regional Medical Center
PHL Test Code: CDDNA
Alternate Test Names: C Diff ; C. diff Toxin; C-Diff ; Clostridium difficile by DNA Amplification; Clostridium difficile DNA; Clostridium DifficileToxin ; Toxigenic Clostridium difficile
CPT Coding: 87493

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