Test Overview
Test Methodology

Culture

Test Usage

Screen for bacterial pathogens in the stool

Reference Range *

Normal fecal flora

Test Limitations

If no pathogens are present, culture will be reported as 'No Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio group, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Aeromonas or Pleisiomonas isolated.' Culture will not isolate Neisseria. If N. gonorrhoeae is suspected, request Neisseria screen separately.

Test Details
Days Set Up
Daily
Analytic Time

Preliminary results are reported in 48 hours. Negative cultures are reported after 3 days.

Soft Order Code
STL, SLT
Synonyms
  • Yersinia Culture, Stool
  • Salmonella Culture, Stool
  • Culture, Stool, Aerobic
  • Enteric Pathogens, Aerobic Culture
  • Enteric Pathogens, Routine Culture
  • Feces, Aerobic Culture
  • Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
  • HUS
  • STL
  • STLG
  • SLT
  • Shiga-Like Toxin
  • Pleisiomonas Culture, Stool
  • Febrile Antibodies Panel replacement (Salmonella)
  • STOOL CULTURE
  • Vibrio group Culture, Stool
  • Shigella Culture, Stool
  • Stool Culture, Aerobic
  • Campylobacter Culture, Stool
  • Aeromonas Culture, Stool
  • Vibrio cholera Culture, Stool
Laboratory
Microbiology
Section
Microbiology
Specimen Requirements
Collection Instructions

Collect fresh random stool or rectal swab. Add stool specimen to transport until liquid reaches fill line. Emulsify specimen thoroughly in transport fluid. Specify pathogen suspected if not Campylobacter, Salmonella or Shigella. If stool is bloody or Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is suspected, indicate this on the requisition. If multiple samples are needed, send 1 stool specimen on each of 3 consecutive days. If the patient has been hospitalized 4 or more days, contact MLabs to have the test approved before sending the specimen. See MLabs Stool Specimen Collection Instructions available online at https://mlabs.umich.edu/media/175 for patient instructions.

Rejection Criteria
Stool received in transport >72 hours old. Rectal swab received in Eswab transport >24 hours old. Specimen refrigerated or incubated. More than one specimen per day received.
Normal Volume
5 mL stool or 1 Eswab
Minimum Volume
2 mL stool or 1 Eswab
Storage Temperature
Ambient: Stool:Up to 72 hrs in stool transport. Rectal swab: up to 24 hrs in Eswab transport.
Refrigerated: No
Frozen: No
Additional Information

Test includes stool culture and shiga-like toxin. Stool infections are transmitted within the community and are rarely hospital acquired. If a patient develops diarrhea 4 or more days after hospitalization, there is a very low likelihood that the diarrhea is due to bacterial infection, with the exception of Clostridium difficile. C. difficile toxin testing can be requested any time C. difficile colitis is suspected. Potentially pathogenic organisms will be identified. Test includes susceptibility testing of potentially pathogenic organism(s) at an additional charge unless specifically declined.

Billing
CPT Code
87045 Culture, 87427 Shiga-like Toxin
Fee Code
32267 STL, 32360 SLT
NY State Approved
No