Specimen Requirements

Fresh, Unpreserved

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

1. 2 g to 5 g of first-morning feces containing blood, mucous, or pus in a sterile, leakproof, wide-mouth container. (Specimen contaminated with barium, mineral oil, urine, or toilet water is not acceptable.)

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  1. Obtain specimen during first 3 days of diarrheal illness.

2. Rectal swab is acceptable for  infants.

3. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Preserved

Specimen must arrive within 96 hours of collection.

1. Use portion of first-morning feces containing blood, mucous, or pus. (Specimen contaminated with barium, mineral oil, urine, or toilet water is not acceptable.)

2. Add stool to “fill-to-here” line on Para-Pak® C&S preservative vial(s).

3. Tighten cap, and shake firmly to ensure specimen is adequately mixed. When mixing is complete, solution should appear homogeneous.

4. Label vial(s) with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  1. Obtain specimen during first 3 days of diarrheal illness.

2. WBCs cannot be determined from preserved specimen.

3. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.