Cyclospora

Patient Preparation

• None

• Acceptable specimen types:

-  Fixed stools in Intestinal Parasite (IP) Total Fix bottle (black cap)

-  Unfixed or preserved specimens (EXCEPT Formalin) - minimum                         volume 500 µL 

• Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers and match accompanying TDH-DLS Form PH-4182.

• None

• Temperature storage temperatures prior to shipping:
  
  -Unfixed stools stored at 2 - 8°C
  
  -Intestinal Parasite (IP) Total Fix media at 17 - 25°C
  
  -Preserved specimens (EXCEPT Formalin) 2-30°C

• Ship samples at the following temperatures:

-Unfixed stools stored at 2 - 8°C

-Intestinal Parasite (IP) Total Fix media at 17 - 25°C

-Preserved specimens (EXCEPT Formalin) 2-30°C

-Ship specimens within 1 week of collection.

• 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 are not 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 collected prior to May 1 of each calendar year

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

-   Specimen containers that are overfilled