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HelpTest Code STENP Culture, Stool, Bacterial Enteric Pathogens
Performing Laboratory
Hunterdon Medical Center Laboratory
Specimen Required
May be collected in “Top hat” or clean bed pan. Do not contaminate with urine or use toilet paper to collect.
Clean, wide mouth container, volume ≥2 grams.
Stool transport media (Para-Pak® -Orange Cap) fill to indicator line.
Specimen Type
Stool specimen
Rectal swab: acceptable for neonatal patients, only.
Duodenal, colostomy, ileostomy contents.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Unpreserved specimen:
Ambient: Deliver within 30 minutes.
Preserved specimen:
Ambient: Deliver within 24 hours.
Refrigerate 2-8°C if delivery is delayed. Deliver within 3 days.
Specimen Stability Information
Unpreserved specimen:
Must be delivered within 2 hours from time of collection to ensure the recovery of Shigella spp.
If culture is performed on a delayed specimen a disclaimer is added to the report regarding the potential for reduced recovery of viable pathogens.
Reject Due To
Not indicated if the patient has been hospitalized for more than three days. Consider C. Difficile testing as an alternative.
Hard or solid stools.
Stools with barium.
Dry swabs
Transport vials with indicators that have turned yellow (low pH will kill enteric pathogens).
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday
Reference Values
No Salmonella, Shigella, Aeromonas or Plesiomonas isolated.
Negative for Campylobacter antigen.
Negative for Shiga-toxins 1 and 2. No enterohemorrhagic E. coli present.
Method Name
Conventional Culture and Biochemical Identification method.