Cryptosporidium species

TEST NAME Cryptosporidium species
DISEASE/DISORDER Cryptosporidiosis
ALTERNATE NAME(S) Crypto
METHODOLOGY Molecular methods
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS None
ORDERING INFORMATION TDH DLS Requisition Form:  PH-4182 Clinical Submission Requisition Form

Specimen Requirements


Patient Preparation
  • None
Specimen Collection
  • 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 Labeling
  • Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers and match accompanying PH-4182 Clinical Submission Requisition.
Specimen Processing
  • None
Specimen Storage and Preservation
  • 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 17 - 25°C

-  Zinc PVA stored at 17 - 25°C

Specimen Transportation
  • 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

  • Ship specimens in the following media at 17 - 25°C:

-  ZincPVA

-  Intestinal parasite (IP) Total Fix bottle (black cap)

  • 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). 
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection
  • 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 

Testing Location
  • Nashville

This Page Last Updated: October 2, 2024 at 12:05 PM