| Specimen Type | Specimen Stability | Reference Range |
| Fresh stool in sterile container or Cary Blair media. | 24hrs | No Growth |
Specimen Requirements
1-2 mL stool specimen in a sterile screw cap leak-proof container or in Cary Blair transport media.
|
Method
Culture
|
Schedule
Sun-Sat
|
Turn-Around Time
48-72 hrs
|
Instructions/Notes
Label source as "stool" on the Pathology, Inc. requisition and avoid the use of ambiguous terms such as "rectal," "anus," etc. NOTE: Stool specimens received in any fixative substance (e.g. formalin, Parasafe) cannot be cultured for enteric pathogens.
|
Clinical Utility
A stool culture is used to detect enteric pathogens such as salmonella and shigella. Yersinia and aeromonas are also cultured. E.coli (Shiga tox 1,2) and campylobacter antigen are also routinely tested.
|
CPT Codes
87045,87046,87427x2,87899
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