Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 1 hour of collection.

Submit stool specimen in a clean, leakproof container. Collect specimen as follows:
1. Lift toilet seat, and cover toilet bowl with a large sheet of plastic wrap. Make a depression in plastic wrap. With toilet seat lowered, pass stool specimen directly onto plastic wrap.
2. Alternatively, collect stool specimen in a clean, dry, wide-mouth container. Do not use toilet paper to collect specimen. Do not remove specimen from toilet water.
3. If a stool specimen cannot be obtained on pediatric patients, insert a sterile swab approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) beyond anal sphincter. Gently rotate swab to sample anal crypts. Collect 2 swabs (feces should be evident on swabs).

4. When using sterile swabs, follow instructions on swab packaging.
5. Label container/transport tube/swab tube (not packaging) with patient’s information, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Maximum storage of specimen is 72 hours refrigerated.

2. Specimen will not be processed if transport/storage requirements are exceeded.
3. Contamination of stool specimen with urine or barium is not acceptable.