SPECIMEN: Fresh stool CONTAINER: Stool transport bottles (Para-Pak C&S), GN Broth or Rectal Swabs
Note: Buffered glycerol saline is unacceptable. 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. Urine specimens must be processed within 4 hours if refrigerated (2-8°C) or transport in BD tubes within 96 hours.
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. TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±5°C): 4 days (Preserved stool) Refrigerated (5±3°C): Not recommended Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable CIDT Screens: 7 days | 
