Investigation of suspected gastroenteritis. Food poisoning is a notifiable disease. Manual bacterial culture for Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella species and E. coli O157.
Rotavirus testing by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) will automatically be carried out on all samples submitted on patients under 5 years of age. Cryptosporidium and Giardia testing by EIA will automatically be carried out on patients with a travel history, appropriate clinical details and liquid stool samples.
Tube
Brown top universal with spoon.
ID
3603.
Availability
Mon – Sun, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Additional information
Full travel history and clinical details such as watery stool must be included on request or some pathogens may be missed. If suspected E coli 0157, Shigella dysenteriae or typhoid or details of HUS, PUO or fever following foreign travel mark clearly as Danger of Infection.
Turn around
5 days.
Send to
Microbiology Department, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF.
Collection Con
Specimens of faeces should be transported as soon as possible as pH changes within faeces may affect the viability of pathogens. Shigella species may not survive pH changes that occur in stool samples if not sent without delay. Refrigerate samples if delay is anticipated.
Sample REQ
Enough sample to fill one third of the pot should be provided. Do not overfill.
IP Routine TAT
5 days.
GP Routine TAT
5 days.