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Test Code LAB257 C. Difficile Toxin

Additional Codes

CPT Code: 87324

Performing Laboratory and Testing Schedule

TidalHealth Peninsula Regional - Microbiology

Testing is performed daily.

Monday through Friday - testing set up twice a day.

Samples must be received by 10am to be tested during morning run.

Samples must be received by 5pm to be tested on the evening run.

Saturday and Sunday - Samples must be received b 3pm to be tested during evening run.

Schedule is subject to change based on holidays, instrumentation issues, and reagent availability.

Methodology

All specimens are screened for Clostridium difficile toxin A and B.

Specimen Requirements

Submit 5 g of freshly passed stool in a screw-capped, sterile container. Formed stools are not acceptable for testing. Improperly labeled specimen, insufficient specimen, specimen in leaky container, or specimens received >24 hours after collection are also not acceptable for testing. Maintain sterility and forward promptly to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

Note:

1. Only 1 CDT specimen per patient per day is acceptable.

2. CDT test requests for patients who have tested positive for CDT within previous 14 days will be credited in the Microbiology Laboratory.

Reference Values

Negative for cytotoxin A and B

Critical value (automatic call-back): positive for cytotoxin A or B (inpatient)

Note: Patients with a positive CDT result, should not have a repeat CDT performed for at least 7 days.