Clostridium difficile assay

Because of the highly sensitive nature of the testing algorithm, only 1 specimen should be submitted for testing. For patients with a previous positive result, additional specimens will be accepted for new episodes of diarrheal disease that occur greater than 14 days after initial testing. For patients with previous negative results, retest is allowed >=7 days.

Do not send specimens if the patient has received laxatives in the previous 48 hours.

Colonization rates of up to 50% have been reported in infants. Testing will not be performed on infants <2 years old of age due to high false positivity rate.

Test of cure specimens are not acceptable because false positives are common in treated patients.

In order to be acceptable for this assay, specimens must conform to the shape of the container.

For more information about the C. difficile algorithm see: Laboratory Diagnosis of C. difficile Infection-CHANGES IN TESTING