Synonym(s):
CD Culture, C.difficile Culture
Stool in screw-capped container sent within two hours to the laboratory
Culture
C. difficile (Toxic strain);C. difficile (Non-toxic strain);No Clostridioides difficile isolated
Negative : 2 – 4 days Positive : 6 – 10 days
Monday - Saturday
Specimens should only be obtained from symptomatic patients:
A) who have had symptoms of diarrhea with passage of 3 or more liquid stool specimens (type 6 or 7 stool on the Bristol stool chart) in less than 24 hours
B) who are on or have taken antibiotics in the previous 8 weeks
Specimen submission should be limited to either 1 per every episode of potential C.difficile disease (diarrhea) or 1 per 7 days
Repeat testing should be avoided, including for "test of cure" once a patient is positive, unless the patient is part of an epidemiological study
Specimens meeting the following criteria should NOT be submitted; rather, they should be rejected with request for re-collection if applicable
A) formed stools
B) rectal swabs
C) specimens containing less than 3mL or 3g of stool (10 - 20mL is preferred)
Specimen collection from the following patient sources should be limited due to high colonization rates
A) infants less than 1 year of age
B) cystic fibrosis patients
{0}
{1}
