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Test Code CDTPCRK STOOL, C.DIFFICILE PCR

Important Note

Note:

  1. Specimen source is required.
  2. Do not collect specimen from toilet.
  3. Specimen in diaper is not acceptable.
  4. Stool material should be scraped into a clean, dry container.
  5. Pediatric patients with severe diarrhea may use a U-Bag collection system. Place U-Bag over urethra to prevent urine from contaminating specimen.

The following specimens will not be tested:

  • Stool at ambient temperature >48 hours
  • Stool refrigerated >5 days
  • Rectal swab
  • Contaminated with water or urine

Methodology

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/DNA Probe Hybridization
(PCR is utilized pursuant to a license agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.)

 

Useful for direct detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile (the leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in developed countries).

Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: Tightly-sealing, leakproof container(s), Sterile Container #6004913

Specimen Volume: Walnut-sized portion of fresh, unpreserved liquid or soft stool

Collection Instructions:

  1. Collect fresh, unpreserved liquid or soft stool.
  2. If specimen is collected in a bedpan or collection “hat”, patient should urinate into another container before collecting stool specimen.
  3. Those portions of stool containing blood and mucus are especially significant and should be transferred into container.
  4. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
  5. Refrigerate specimen after collection.

 

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Maximum Laboratory Time

6 hours

STAT available 24/7

Specimen Stability

Ambient: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 5 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reference Values

Toxigenic Clostridium difficile: not detected
027-NAP1-BI: not detected

Performing Laboratory

Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory

Test Classification and CPT Coding

 

 

Test Classification:This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Logan Health Medical Center, Kalispell, MT. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
CPT Code:

 

87493(X2)-Clostridium difficile, toxin gene(s), amplified probe technique