Stool Culture
(Contact SLCH Laboratory Customer Service at 314-454-4161 for specimen collection supplies.)
Specimen Collection:
1.	Collect 1 gram of stool in a dry container. Avoid contamination with urine.
2.	Specimens from hospitalized patients can be submitted in a clean sterile cup if received in lab in <2 hours.
3.	If a delay in specimen transport is expected (>2 hours), place stool in the orange container marked Para-Pak C & S until the liquid level reaches the red line.
DO NOT OVERFILL.
4.	Label the orange vial with the patient’s name, patient unique identifier (i.e. date of birth, medical record number, social security number) and date/time of collection.
5.	Leave the vial at room temperature. The Para-pak C&S vial should be tested as soon as possible, but may be held up to 72 hours at room temperature
6.	Outpatients should return the vial to the Outpatient Laboratory on the 2^nd floor of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. If the Outpatient Laboratory is closed, take the specimen to the Emergency Room located on the first level.