Florida Bureau of Public Health laboratories
Enteric Stool Culture
Stool clinical specimens are isolated for analytes and identified by MALDI-TOC or biochemical testing.
Analyte(s)
Routine: Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Campylobacter sp., E. coli o157:H7, and any other shiga-toxin producing E. coli           Â
Screened upon request: Vibrio sp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A
Not routinely included but reported: Edwardsiella tarda, Pliesiomonas shigelloides, Aeromonas sp.
Test Code
2600
Testing Location
Testing Department
Microbiology
Pre-approval Required?
No
Required Forms
BPHL Test Requisition, DH1847
(not needed if orders are placed by electronic order)
Supply Ordering
Supplies may be requested from your servicing laboratory. Supplies ordered from the BPHL should only be used for specimen sent to the BPHL for testing.
Turn Around time
5 business days after receipt at the laboratory
Minimum Volume
Fill within fill line (15 mL)
Minimum volume 1 mL.
Collection Media
Specimens must be submitted in Modified Cary-Blair derived or type of transport medium only within 96 hours (4 days) of collection. Rectal swab or material in a sterile transport system.
Specimen Sources
Rectal swab form infants are acceptable if less than 48 hours.Â
Raw stool submitted for testing must be received within 24 hours of collection
Specimen Labeling
Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers, e.g., name and DOB.
Information on the specimen must match the requisition and/or test order.Â
Special SPecimen Preparation
None.
Storage Conditions
Specimens may be refrigerated at 2-8° C if not being shipped within 24 to 48 hours. Specimens must arrive at the laboratory within 4 days of collection.
Packaging and Shipping
Specimens should be shipped at 2-8° C or 15-30° C to arrive at the laboratory within 4 days of collection on appropriate transport medium.
Please remember that raw stool will produce gasses that may cause the collection device to explode in warm temperatures.
Include paperwork with specimens but separate them physically by placing the paperwork in the outer pocket of the biohazard bag.
unsatisfactory specimen
1) Specimens received greater than 4 days after collection
2) No patient identification on specimen tube
3) Patient identifiers on the specimen do not match the requisition or test order
4) Specimen damaged or leaked in transit
Interferences and Limitations
Non-viable, mixed cultures may not yield reportable results
Reference Range
Negative: No pathogen detected
Result Indicator
Positive: Isolation in culture and organism ID after culture
Negative: No pathogen detected
Reference lab
CDC
Reflex testing
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)