| Clostridium difficile toxin by PCR (8000100147) | |
|---|---|
| Test Mnemonic: | |
| Specimen Requirements: | Pseudomembranous colitis; Detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile from unformed or liquid fecal samples. |
| Collection: | Feces sample |
| Container: | Clean container |
| Minimum Volume: | 1 mL |
| Storage/Transport: | Room temperature or Refrigerated |
| Specimen Preparation: | Transfer feces to a clean, spillproof container |
| Stability: | 24 hour at room temperature, 5 days if refrigerated
|
| Causes for Rejection: | Formed specimen, insufficient quantity, sample on culturette, stool in preservatives, specimen container unlabeled or mislabeled, no date and time of collection on form. Duplicate requests (negative or positive) if collected < 7 days apart. |
| Reference Range: | Negative |
| Turnaround Time: | The test is performed daily, must be received prior to noon to be tested same day. |
| Methodology: | This molecular assay utlizes automated real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect toxin gene sequences associated with toxin producing C. difficile. |
| Performed: | |
| Lab: | Clinical Microbiology |
| Synonyms: | Pseudomembranous colitis test; C. difficile toxin assay; C. difficile toxigenic assay; Clostridium difficile test; Clostridium difficile toxin test; C. difficile by molecular assay; Clostridium difficile cytotoxin assay. |
| Clinical Indication: | Aid in the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile related disease |
| Patient Preparation : | This test is performed on patients with diarrhea. |
| CPT 4 Code: | 87493 |
| When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent. | |