Stool Culture, Campylobacter sp Only

Test ID: 

705880

CPT code:

87046

Synonyms:

Campylobacter jejuni Culture

Campylobacter Culture, Stool

Culture, Stool, Campylobacter sp

Clinical Use:

Determine the presence or absence of Campylobacter species in stool

Test Information:

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis.

Specimen Type:

Stool or rectal swab placed in stool culture transport vial

Requested Volume: 

1 to 2 g in stool C&S transport vial

Container Type: 

Stool culture transport vial (Para-Pak® orange) is required.

Collection:

If collected in sterile bedpan, specimen must not be contaminated with urine, residual soap, or disinfectant.
A single stool specimen cannot be used to rule out bacteria as a cause of diarrhea. It is recommended that two or three stool specimens, collected on separate days, be submitted to increase the probability of isolating a bacterial pathogen. Hospitalized patients who develop diarrhea while hospitalized and more than 72 hours after admission should be tested for Clostridium difficile by detection of toxin A and/or toxin B.
Studies have shown that patients who did not have gastroenteritis or other GI symptoms on admission are unlikely to have diarrheal illness due to Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, or enterohemorrhagic E coli.

Storage Instructions:

Maintain specimen at room temperature.

Rejection Criteria

Specimen received in grossly leaking transport container; diapers; dry specimen; specimen submitted in fixative or additive; specimen received in expired transport media or incorrect transport device; inappropriate specimen transport conditions (not in a C&S vial or in an overfilled C&S vial); specimen received after prolonged delay in transport (usually more than 72 hours); specimen stored or transported frozen; wooden shaft swab in transport device; unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label