Specimen Requirements

Fresh specimen must arrive within 1 hour of collection.

Specimen Type: Stool or rectal aspirate

Container/Tube: 

     Inpatient only - Clean, leak-proof plastic container or Cary Blair.  Fresh specimen must arrive                                 within 1 hour of collection.

     Outpatient - Cary blair container

Specimen Volume: 0.5 to 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Ideal collection should be first specimen of the day, every other day. One specimen per day is acceptable.

2. The specimen should not be contaminated with urine or toilet water.

3. If delay is anticipated or for home collection, specimen should be placed in Cary Blair Transport Media which is available from Missouri Baptist Medical Center Microbiology Laboratory at 314-996-5462.

4. Swab specimen is acceptable for infants and young children.

Additional Information:

1. Stool cultures on inpatients will not be accepted after the third hospital day without prior consultation with an ID physician.

2. Patients who develop diarrhea after the third day of hospitalization should have Clostridium difficile Toxin A and B, Stool testing considered in place of a stool culture.