Gastrointestinal Culture
- Synonyms: Stool Culture
- LIS Mnemonic: CGI
Collect
Stool, colonic aspirate, colonic wash
Rectal swab on patients < 2 yrs of age if stool not possible
Refer to Stability and Transport for appropriate submission
Optimal Submision: specimen in Enteric Transport Media (ETM)or specimen in sterile container depending on your location.
Volume Required
Liquid specimen: approimately 5 ml in ETM or 1 tbsp in sterile container.
Soft or semi soft specimen: add specimen to ETM as indicated on the vial (approx 1 to 2 gms)or approximately 1 gm in a sterile container.
Double swab culture device for patients < 2 yrs of age when stool is not available
Minimum Required
Same as volume required
Transport
Unpreserved stool/colonic wash/aspirate in sterile container: immediately at room temperature.
Stool in Enteric Transport Media or rectal swab: ASAP at room temperature
DO NOT REFRIGERATE OR FREEZE
Stability
Unpreserved Stool: must be received in Lab within 30 minutes of collection.
Specimen in Enteric Transport Media: must be received in Lab within 72 hours of collection.
Processing
Stool pathogens routinely cultured for: Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, beta-hemolytic Vibrio spp., and E. coli 0157:H7. Any other organisms would need a special request. This request also includes testing for E.coli/Shiga Toxin.
Unacceptable conditions
Unpreserved Stools received >30 minutes after collection;
diapers containing stool; refrigerated or frozen specimens;
swabs on patients > 2yrs of age;
this specimen not appropriate for anaerobic culture;
Specimen Handling
Stool Specimen Transport Guidelines for Microbiologic Testing
Days Performed
Daily
Reported
Updates daily until final
CPT
87045
Methodology
Culture
Remarks
Also referred to as "Stool Culture".
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Enteric Transport Media (ETM) is available from SPD (Item #55398). If specimen is submitted in ETM only one stool per day is necessary; if not in ETM, 2 per day maximum. If swab is used for collection, place the swab in ETM and break off shaft.
Note: C.difficile Toxin and non-beta hemolytic Vibrio (i.e. V. cholera)are separate requests. If a patient has diarrhea and a history of antibiotic exposure, consider C.difficile Toxin testing.
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