C. difficile, stool
- Test Name:
- C. difficile, stool
- Organism(s)/Disease(s):
-
C. difficile
C. difficile diarrhea
C. difficile enterocolitis
Clostridioides difficile colitis
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI)
Clostridioides difficile toxin (CDT)
Clostridioides difficile-associated disease (CDAD)
Clostridioidies difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile)
Pseudomembranous colitis (antibiotic associated diarrhea)
- Body Source(s):
-
Stool / feces
-
Clinical Prerequisite(s):
-
Provision of relevant, clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
Always provide:
• specimen source
• current antibiotic therapy and start date
• clinical history: symptoms and signs; duration
NOTE: DO NOT collect stool with recent mesalamine rectal suspension enema, GynolII® vaginal contraceptive, TUMS®, or Maalox® liquid. These substances interfere with the assay
- Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
60 mL sterile, plastic container
- Comments:
-
Collection Instructions: Enteric Bacterial Panel and C.difficile Stool Collection
• Submit unformed stool (stool that conforms to the shape of the container).
Hard stool will not be processed
• Stool must not be contaminated with urine, water or other contaminants
- Handling and Storage:
-
Refrigerate
- Handling/Storage Comments:
-
Transport to the testing laboratory as soon as possible after collection
Ensure the lid does not leak and is not cross-threaded
- Rejection Criteria:
-
- Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
- Leaking specimen(s)
- Receipt of rectal swab or Copan FecalSwab™
- Specimen collected in enteric transport media
- Specimen collected in any type of preservative (10% formalin, MV, SAF, or PVA)
- Submission of formed, solid, or hard stool specimen
- Receipt multiple specimens within a 24-hour period
- Receipt of a previous test within the last 7 days, unless approved by the Microbiologist-on-Call
- Patient is <24 months old and collected without Microbiologist approval
- Turnaround Times
- See Microbiology Information»
- Comments:
-
All sites: For more test information refer to:
Testing for C. difficile (Lab Bulletin - 21-Jul-2025)
Calgary/South: for information regarding the testing algorithm used, refer to:
Molecular Testing Summary - APL DSC Calgary
- Last Reviewed:
- 26 August 2025
