Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens.

Fresh, Unpreserved

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

1. 10 mL (minimum volume:  5 mL) of feces in a clean, dry, leakproof container with a tightly-fitting lid.

2. Those portions of feces containing blood, mucus, or pus are especially significant and should be transferred into container. (Specimen contaminated with water or urine is not acceptable.)

Note:  1. Antidiarrheal compounds, antibiotics, antacids, oils, bismuth, barium, and various other drugs will render stool specimen unsuitable for parasite examination. Specimen should be obtained before these chemicals are taken or after their effects have disappeared.

2. Collect specimens at least 24 hours apart. Specimen collected <24 hours apart will be rejected. No more than 3 specimens should be collected without prior consultation with the laboratory and Infectious Disease.

3. Specimen collected from an inpatient after the 4th day of hospitalization will only be accepted with prior consultation with the laboratory and Infectious Disease.

4. Forward promptly at ambient temperature.

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

Preserved

1. Obtain a Para-Pak^TM Stool Specimen Collection Kit by calling St. Luke’s Hospital Laboratory Client Service Department at 218-249-5200.

2. Add feces into each of 2 vials from kit.

3. Those portions of feces containing blood, mucus, or pus are especially significant and should be transferred into vials. (Specimen contaminated with water or urine is not acceptable.)

4. Do not fill above line indicated on vials.

5. Thoroughly mix specimen in vial with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fixative as per instructions.

6. Forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Antidiarrheal compounds, antibiotics, antacids, oils, bismuth, barium, and various other drugs will render stool specimen unsuitable for parasite examination. Specimen should be obtained before these chemicals are taken or after their effects have disappeared.

2. Collect specimens at least 24 hours apart. Specimen collected <24 hours apart will be rejected. No more than 3 specimens should be collected without prior consultation with the laboratory and Infectious Disease.

3. Specimen collected from an inpatient after the 4th day of hospitalization will only be accepted with prior consultation with the laboratory and Infectious Disease.

4. Forward promptly at ambient temperature.

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