Sample type: Faeces

Test name: C.difficile toxin a.k.a. Faeces, C. Diff, colitis, Infection

Condition / Indication: Diarrhoea/Pseudomembranous colitis

Special precautions & notes: Specimens from inpatients who develop diarrhoea with no clearly attributable underlying condition (e.g. inflammatory colitis, overflow) or therapy (e.g. laxatives, enteral feeding) should be submitted for testing and will have Clostridium difficile tests performed. Formed stool specimens will not be processed. The sample must take on the shape of the ‘universal’ container and be at least ¼ filled.

Reference range: Not Applicable

Container: Blue top universal with spoon

Ideal volume (mL): 3 spoons

Referred outside NBT for analysis? No

Discipline: Microbiology

Turnaround time: 2 days