Ordering Guidance

Cryptosporidium oocysts do not reliably stain with the modified safranin stain. If Cryptosporidium is suspected, the specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for this organism is recommended; order CRYPS / Cryptosporidium Antigen, Feces. To detect this organism as well as other common infectious causes of diarrhea, order GIP / Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, PCR, Feces.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation: Patient should avoid use of antidiarrheal medication (eg, loperamide [Imodium-AD] or Pepto-Bismol).

The presence of barium will interfere with this test.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Preserved stool

Supplies:

-ECOFIX Stool Transport Vial (Kit) (T219)

-Formalin-Meridian 10% Buffered Neutral (T466)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: ECOFIX Stool Transport Vial (Kit)

Acceptable: 10% Buffered Formalin Stool Transport (Kit), Sodium Acetate Formalin (SAF)

Specimen Volume: 10 g

Specimen Stability Information: Ambient 21 days (preferred)/Refrigerated 21 days

Acceptable

Specimen Type: Unpreserved stool

Supplies: Stool container, Small (Random), 4 oz (T288)

Container/Tube: Stool container

Specimen Volume: 5 g

Specimen Stability Information: Refrigerated 3 days (preferred)