Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Test Name/Synonym:

Clostridium Difficile Toxin - Stool - Calgary Zone (CLS)

Test Code:

M CD

Primary Container:

Sterile Container

Specimen Collection Requirements:

Submit stool specimen in sterile container.

Refer to Patient Collection Instructions: Collecting Stool Samples for Bacterial Enteric Pathogen Testing, Rotavirus, Clostridium difficile Toxin, Parasite Screen and/or Ova and Parasites MI6000 .

Processing:

Deliver specimen and requisition to the lab within 8 hours after collecting.
If delivery to laboratory is delayed, refrigerate specimen and deliver to the laboratory within 24 hours.

For specimens that cannot be received in the testing laboratory within 24 hours, freeze (-20 ºC) and ship on ice.
Avoid freeze thaw cycles.

Leaking sample containers will NOT be accepted

Testing Schedule:

Test performed on a daily basis.

Testing Area:

Microbiology

Performing Site:

Diagnostic and Scientific Centre

Additional Test Information:

Formed stool is NOT acceptable.
Tests will not be performed for patients:

who have had previous testing within the last seven (7) days, or
are children less than, or equal to, 12 months of age.

Clostridium difficile testing is performed using a two-step algorithm. All samples are screened by a chemiluminescent immunoassay to detect glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) specific for C. difficile.
The sensitivity of this assay is >99%. If it is negative, C. difficile is ruled out.
If the GDH is positive, Cepheid GeneXpert® Dx System, a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for rapid detection of toxin B gene sequences, is used to confirm the presence of a toxigenic C. difficile strain.
The PCR method is greater than 99% sensitive and greater than 93% specific.

Turnaround time: 1 day.

Last Updated On:

Tuesday, March 12, 2024