Collecting stool sample for c.difficile

[Njoy704]

whitepine wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> Quick question! When collecting your stool samples, what protocol do you
> normally follow. I collected mine on Friday night and was told to freeze
> it, and bring it to the lab on Monday (today)
>
> Just checking in to make sure that freezing it is okay.
> I am 30 days off vanco and all meds, also 30 days since my infusion,
> finally got diarrhea on Friday and collected the sample. GI said only test
> if it was liquid stool.
>
> Making sure it's ok to freeze it.
> Thank you! :)

Whoa! This is an old post. But I'm curious to find out if your test came out accurate after freezing? And if it was a EIA test or PCR. I've been reading so many different g info on freezING the sample. I'll be in the same situation next week as I can't see my doctor until next week, which means I'll be collecting my sample on a Friday and can't turn it in until Monday. Mine will be the EIA test.

[NikaNik]

Hi, NJoy! This post is indeed old so you might have better luck sending the original poster a private message. The EIA test is only about 60 percent accurate and isn't used as much anymore. Ask for a PCR or GDH test if you can. The PCR is about 96.9 percent accurate and detects active, as well as non-active infections (so you should only test if you have symptoms). The GDH is an antigen test and also very accurate. Hope you are negative and feel better soon!

[roy]

There was no PCR tests in 2007.
Between Friday and Monday someone with c.diff would be able to produce 20+ samples.
C.diff toxins degrade at room temperature.
A fresh sample is best.
It has to be chilled if not tested within 4 hours or frozen if not tested within 24 hours.

[Bobbie]

See CDI - c diff Tesring and Diagnosis.