Preferred Sample Type
Sample Preparation
Please Note 2- 3 g or >5mls MUST be provided otherwise specimen rejected.Turnaround Time
4 daysFaeces Culture & Susceptibility
General Information
Please send faeces sample from patients with diarrhoea. Definition of diarrhoea is 3 or more episodes of diarrhoea type 6 or 7 stool per day. A diarrhoeal sample will take the shape of the container.
For Enteric culture investigation includes identification of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, E.coli 0157, Giardia, Cryptosporidium and C.difficile which may be requested seperately if required.
Notes
Please do not send faeces sample requesting clostridium difficile that have been positive in the past seven days or faeces sample that are formed they will be rejected.
Second sample within 14 days from hospital wards will be tested for C. difficile .
If collecting samples as part of an outbreak, please telephone the laboratory to obtain an outbreak number. Ensure that this number is clearly stated on all the samples associated with the outbreak.
For all laboratory related public health information please visit link below.
Do not send multiple disciple tests such as chemistry requests on Microbiology request form. Send microbiology request with microbiology samples. For example, faecal calprotectin request should not be requested as an additional test on the microbiology request form.
Instructions for patient self-collection of faeces sample: PATIENT SELF COLLECTED STOOL
Any unlabelled, mismatched, leaking or incorrect sample will be rejected.
Poster for sending a stool sample click here
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: NEQAS