Cryptosporidium species

• None

• Acceptable specimen types:

-  Unfixed stool - miminum volume of 200µL 

-  Frozen stool

-  Fixed stools in the following media:

-  Cary-Blair media 

-  C & S culture transport media

-  Zinc PVA 

-  Intestinal Parasite (IP) Total Fix media

-  Potassium dichromate 

-  Amies or Stuart transport media 

• Specimen should be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers along with specimen source and match accompanying test order.

• None

• Unfixed stools stored at 2 - 8°C less than one month.
• Unfixed frozen stools stored at (-20) to (-70)ºC.
• Fixed stools stored at the following temperatures and recieved less than thirty (30) days following collection:

-  Cary-Blair media stored at 2 - 30°C

-  Potassium dichromate stored at 2 - 30°C

-  Amies or Stuart transport media stored at 2 - 30°C

-  Intestinal Parasite (IP) Total Fix media at 2 - 30°C

-  Zinc PVA stored at 17 - 25°C

• Ship at the following temperatures:

-  Unfixed stools 2 - 8°C 

-  Specimens in C & S culture transport media 2 - 30°C

-  Specimens in Potassium dichromate 2 - 30°C

- Specimens in Intestinal parasite (IP) Total Fix bottle (black cap) 2 - 30°C

- Specimens in Zinc PVA at 17 - 25°C

• Ship frozen samples at (-20) to (-70) °C on Dry Ice
• All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180). 

• Unsatisfactory specimens include, but may not be limited to:

-  Specimen was broken or leaked in transit

-  Specimens with interfering substances present such as bismuth, barium,       mineral oil, gall-bladder dyes, urine, water, or dirt

-  No specimen was in the container submitted

 -  Stools submitted in Formalin

 -  Stools, other than frozen, received later than thirty (30) days after                      collection

 -  Specimens that are incorrectly labeled or contain discrepancies between         the test requisition and the specimen container

-   Specimen containers that are overfilled 

• Nashville