Clostridium difficile toxin
- Synonyms: C difficile C diff
- LIS Mnemonic: CDTAG
Collect
Unformed (soft or liquid) stool/feces specimens
Volume Required
2 Tbsp
Minimum Required
2 Tbsp
Transport
Send to laboratory immediately. Freeze if there is a delay in transport. If the specimen is refrigerated or frozen, transport on ice.
Stability
1 hour at room temperature; 1 to 24 hours refrigerated; if more than 24 hours, specimen must be frozen.
If specimen is refrigerated or frozen it must be transported on ice.
Unacceptable conditions
Formed stools
Patients < 12 month of age
**See Remarks**
Washings (i.e. colonic or duodenal) due to dilution factor. Specimens containing barium. Specimens submitted on swabs or in diapers.
Days Performed
7 days a week
Reported
Within 2 hours of receipt in the Microbiology Laboratory
Reflex Testing
Loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification (LAMP) technology [illumigene®) used for confirmation of specimens indeterminate by GDH screen (laboratory orderable only)
CPT
87324 (GDH antigen screen); 87493 (illumigene®)
Methodology
GDH antigen screen - membrane enzyme immunoassay
Remarks
C.difficile toxin testing on stool from patients less than 12 months of age will ONLY be performed following a Gastroenterology consult and a verbal request from the GI service to the Microbiologist on service PRIOR to collection of the specimen.
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