Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Vial containing Enteric Transport Media (ETM)

Speciment Type: Feces

Preferred Volume: > 1mL

Emergency Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL (200uL)

Collection Procedure: Collect stool sample in enteric transport medium or Cary Blair. If fresh stool is submitted, it must be transferred to a Cary Blair or ETM vial within 2 hrs of collection. If less than 1ml of fresh stool is submitted, when transferring to the ETM vial, the ratio of media to stool must be 2:1.  Discard enough media prior to placing stool in the vial to ensure this ratio is achieved.

Specimen Processing: Store and Transport refrigerated
Required Patient Info: Specimen source
Stability:

Fresh Stool: Room Temperature for 2 hours

Cary Blair or ETM: up to 3 days Refrigerated 

Stool in the Aptima Multitest tube: 6 days at room temperature, 30 days refrigerated, up to 3 months frozen at ≤ -20°C

Frozen Stool: Unacceptable

Unacceptable Condition: Samples that have been frozen or exposed to excessive heat; specimens contaminated with water, or soap. Fresh stool not transferred to a Cary Blair or ETM vial within 2 hrs of collection. Formed stool.