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Test Code Billings Clinic: 5909 Clostridium difficile Toxin, Molecular Detection, PCR, Stool

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Laboratory

Useful For

Sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis

Methodology

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Specimen Requirements

Feces

  1. Submit unformed stool in a clean, dry, leakproof container with a tightly-fitting lid.
  2. If specimen is collected in a bedpan or collection “hat,” patient should urinate into another container before stool specimen is collected. Do not collect specimen from toilet.
  3. Stool material should be scraped into a clean, dry, leakproof container with a tightly-fitting lid. Pediatric patients with severe diarrhea may use a U-Bag® Collection System. Place bag over anal area in an attempt to retrieve specimen before it soaks into diaper.
  4. Those portions of stool containing blood and mucus are especially significant and should be transferred into container.
  5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
  6. Transport specimen refrigerated.  Specimen is stable <5 days when stored refrigerated.

Reject Due To

  • Specimen in diaper
  • Leaking specimen container
  • Specimen contaminated with urine and/or water
     

Reference Values

A positive PCR result for the presence of the gene regulating toxin production (tcdC) indicates the presence of Clostridium difficile and toxin A and/or B.

 

A negative result indicates the absence of detectable Clostridium difficile tcdC DNA in the specimen, but does not rule out Clostridium difficile infection. False-negative results may occur due to inhibition of PCR, sequence variability underlying the primers and/or probes or the presence of Clostridium difficile in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87493 - Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Clostridium difficile, toxin gene(s), amplified probe technique

LOINC Code Information

Reporting Name LOINC Code

Clostridium difficile Toxin, Molecular Detection, PCR, Stool

 54067-4