Cryptosporidium and Isospora Smear, Stool-994

Test info

  
Cryptosporidium and Isospora Smear, Stool
  
994
  
LAB994
  
MSO
  
Acid-Fast Stain
Modified for Parasites
Cryptosporidium
Isospora

Specimen

  

Fecal specimens for parasitic examination should be collected before initiation of antidiarrheal therapy or antiparasitic therapy. The highest yield on hospitalized patients occurs when diarrhea is present on admission or within 72 hours of admission. The onset of diarrhea more than 72 hours after admission is usually caused by Clostridium difficile toxin rather than parasites or the usual stool pathogens. The following recommendations are made for efficient and cost-effective diagnosis of diarrheal disease in patients admitted with gastroenteritis.

  
Stool
  

Clean container

  
  • Collect sample in a clean container
  • Place stool into pink vial up to, but not higher than the red fill line 
  

Parasite (O&P) transport (formalin vial only); Para Pak - Pink

  

Ambient (strict) - 72 hours

  
  • Inappropriate specimen transport device
  • Unlabeled specimen
  • Name discrepancy between specimen and request label
  • Specimen received after prolonged delay (usually >72 hours)
  • Leaking specimen
  • Specimen received in denture cup, "Cool Whip" container, margarine container, or similar container

Performance

  
LabCorp (182378): R-NX
  
Mo - Fr
  
3 days
  

Modified acid-fast (Kinyoun) stain

Clinical and Interpretive info

  

None seen

Billing

  
87015
87206

Tracking

  
03/17/2023
  
06/06/2023