Culture, Stool

Culture, Stool

Alternate Test Name

Feces Enteric Culture
Stool Culture

Mnemonic

LAB223
STLC

Result Availabilty

Negatives finalized at 48 hours

Container

Enteric Transport Media (contact laboratory)
Alternate: Swab placed in Enteric Transport Media

Volume

Pref. Vol.: Transport media container filled to indicated line with feces or
1 rectal swab placed in Feces Culture Transport Media

Collection Instructions

Random Stool Specimen (Feces):
• Collect in sterile bedpan (not contaminated with urine, residual soap or disinfectants)
• Transfer portions of stool, particularly those containing pus, blood, or mucus to a container of Enteric Transport Media
• Single specimens are acceptable; however, three consecutive specimens obtained during the acute state (first three days) of diarrheal disease are suggested
• Fill container to indicated line, but not beyond

Rectal Swab Specimen:
• Swabs of rectal wall or sigmoid colon lesions collected during proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy
• Or, pass swab beyond anal sphincter, carefully rotate and withdraw
• Place swab in container of Feces Culture Transport Media with gel

Duodenal Sigmoid Aspirate Specimens:
• Collected by physician and placed in Feces Culture Transport Media
STOOL COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT GUIDELINES

Transportation Instructions

Maintain specimens collected in transport media at room temperature

Causes for Rejection

• Not received in appropriate transport medium
• Filled 1/4 inch above or below the "fill-to-here" line on the vial
• Contains interfering substances (oil, barium, bismuth, iron or magnesium compounds)
• Dry swab
• Received from inpatient after 3rd hospital day

CPT Codes

87045, 87046, 87015, 87899 x 2

Effective/Revised

10/15/12