Escherichia coli (STEC) Culture

TEST NAME	Escherichia coli (STEC) Culture
DEPARTMENT	BACT
TESTS	B10
DESCRIPTION	Screening procedure for isolation and identification of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli utilizing conventional biochemical and serological testing techniques. Toxin production confirmed utilizing ELISA techniques.
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS	SPECIMEN: Fresh stool CONTAINER: Stool transport bottles (Para Pak C&S) COLLECTION: The specimen of choice is the diarrheal stool collected during the acute stage of the disease. Keep the stool specimen cool, do not incubate or refrigerate. Portions containing blood or mucus usually contain the highest number of pathogens. The use of rectal swabs (Bacterial Culturettes) should be limited to patients with active disease, infants and children from whom feces may be difficult to obtain. TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±5°C): 4 days (Preserved stool) Refrigerated (5±3°C): Not recommended Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable for culture, acceptable for toxin assay only CIDT Screens: 7 days
TURNAROUND TIME (TAT)	1 week Culture 5 days Toxin 1 day
REFERENCE RANGE	Negative
TEST METHOD	Culture
CPT CODES	87046

TEST NAME

Escherichia coli (STEC) Culture

DEPARTMENT

BACT

TESTS

B10

DESCRIPTION

Screening procedure for isolation and identification of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli utilizing conventional biochemical and serological testing techniques.
Toxin production confirmed utilizing ELISA techniques.

SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS

SPECIMEN: Fresh stool

CONTAINER: Stool transport bottles (Para Pak C&S)

COLLECTION: The specimen of choice is the diarrheal stool collected during the acute stage of the disease. Keep the stool specimen cool, do not incubate or refrigerate. Portions containing blood or mucus usually contain the highest number of pathogens. The use of rectal swabs (Bacterial Culturettes) should be limited to patients with active disease, infants and children from whom feces may be difficult to obtain.

TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±5°C): 4 days (Preserved stool)

Refrigerated (5±3°C): Not recommended

Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable for culture, acceptable for toxin assay only

CIDT Screens: 7 days

TURNAROUND TIME (TAT)

1 week

Culture 5 days

Toxin 1 day

REFERENCE RANGE

Negative

TEST METHOD

Culture

CPT CODES

87046

COVID-19 Updates

OC Links

Conditions of Children Report

The Orange County Equity Map

Triple P Online

View/Register through DHCS

Drowning Prevention

Healthy Living Just Clicks