Specimen

Stool

Collect 0.5 mL or 0.5 grams of semi-solid stool or 20 mm diameter stool and send frozen in a screw capped polypropylene container. Polystyrene containers are unacceptable for frozen shipping. 

Note: If submitting Cary Blair or Parapak C&S, send at room temperature.

Specimen stability: 

4 days refrigerated at 2-8 C

4 days at room temperature

14 days frozen (Cary Blair/Parapak C&S unacceptable if frozen)

Minimum volume:

0.5 mL or 0.5 grams of semi-solid, 20 mm solid stool

Specimen rejection criteria:

Watery, diarrheal stool, stool in preservative, transport media or swab