Faeces culture (stool, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, d+v, d&v, dysentry, campylobacter, salmonella, shigella)
Microbiology
Notes
Routine enteric bacteriology testing is performed on stool samples submitted from community and out-patient settings and on in-patients within the first 3 days of admission
Samples from in-patients collected more than 3 days after admission are generally only examined for Clostridium difficile toxin
Routine testing includes culture for Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli O15.
Testing for additional pathogens will be done based on clinical details
Stool samples on patients under the age of 7 years are routinely tested for Rotavirus
Please contact the laboratory before submitting samples from a suspected outbreak.
The information given here is intended for use by healthcare professionals. Please see Lab Tests Online-UK for more general advice, links and background.
See also:
Faeces for Clostridium difficile toxin
Sample requirements
Do not contaminate with urine
For liquid stools do not fill pot more than half full
Required information
- Current or recent antibiotic therapy
- Date of onset, length of history
- Food history if relevant - e.g. shellfish consumption
- Travel history - state countries and dates of travel and return
- Details of travel history is important for ensuring the safety of laboratory workers
- Association with known cases
- Please state if from a suspected outbreak and give the HP zone number if known
- Please state if sample is for clearance purposes
Storage/transport
Transport as soon as possible. If transport is delayed, refrigeration is preferable to storage at room temperature.
Turnaround time
2 - 5 days
If confirmation or further testing at a National Reference Centre is required this will extend turnaround times