Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preserved Stool

1. Stool specimens should be collected in a clean, dry container. (Transcaddy ECOFIX vial, duodenal, duodenal aspirate, and bowel aspirate are not acceptable for this test). Urine must not be passed into the same container. A bedpan or toilet seat can be covered with plastic wrap, or a waxed paper carton or a clean cut-off plastic milk carton can be used. Contamination with urine or water should be avoided since urine may destroy motile organisms and water may contain free-living organisms.

2. Open the special vial containing 10% buffered neutral formalin, and use the spoon attached to lid to collect stool specimen. The vial contains fluid (POISON). Add enough stool specimen to bring the fluid level up to the line on the label. Do not go beyond the line on the label. Sample areas that contain blood, mucous, watery material or from different areas of a solidly formed stool.

3. Completely mix the stool specimen with the fluid in the vial by using the spoon, then tighten the cap and shake the vial.

4. Label vial with patient's name, date of birth and date of collection.

Unpreserved Stool

Specimen must be received within 1 hour of collection.

5 g (minimum volume: 1 g) of unpreserved stool in container supplied. (Grossly bloody [containing no visible stool] stool or very mucoid stool is not acceptable.)

Causes for Rejection

1. Preserved specimens-inadequately filled 10% formalin vial.

2. Unpreserved specimens-insufficient specimen, specimen not received within 1 hour.