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Alternate Name(s):
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Stool culture, Feces, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, STEC, E.coli 0157, Shiga toxin, HUS; hemolytic-uremic syndrome
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Specimen Requirement:
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Stool/faeces in enteric Carey-Blair transport medium.
Do NOT sent rectal swabs.
Do NOT send stool/faeces in container without transport medium.
Stool collected >72 hours from admission will not be accepted for culture.
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Store and ship at 2-8C.
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Turnaround Time:
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3 days
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Interpretive Comments:
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ear47mtete|20504125C0E0|LRCTEST_background|InterpretiveComments|Comments|0xffff911b02000000fd00000001000000 Stools will be routinely tested by multiplex PCR for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and STEC. PCR is more sensitive than culture, particularly for Shigella, Yersinia and STEC.
While E. coli O157:H7 is the most well-recognized of the STEC, other strains can be associated with bloody diarrhea and rarely cause severe complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
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Additional Information:
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Turnaround Time - Routine Testing performed daily and PCR results available on the day of testing. Culture results require a further 48 - 72 hours.
For Campylobacter and Yersinia, the PCR result will be the final result. For Salmonella and Shigella positive samples, PCR results will be reported and positive specimens will be cultured and may be tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. As PCR is more sensitive than culture, not all PCR positive samples will be culture positive.
Salmonella and Shigella isolates are sent to the Public Health Laboratory for serogrouping to help identify potential outbreaks. STEC positive samples will be referred directly to PHL for isolation and serogrouping of the causative organism. For outbreaks contact your local Public Health Unit.
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Method of Analysis:
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Laboratory developed multiplex PCR assay
Routine culture
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Test was Last Updated:
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12/9/2025
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Testing Laboratory:
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Virology-Serology
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Testing Site:
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HGH/SJHH
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