Enteric – Bacteria – Confirmatory Testing
Consistent with O. Reg. 671/92 of the French Language Services Act, laboratory testing information on this page is only available in English because it is scientific or technical in nature and is for use only by qualified health care providers and not by members of the public.
Specimen Requirements
| Test Requested | Required Requisition(s) | Specimen Type | Minimum Volume | Collection Kit |
Enteric bacteria identification |
Pure viable subculture of organism on media that supports the growth1 |
None |
Pure bacteria in appropriate agar plate, tube or swab for identification and speciation. |
Submission and Collection Notes
Provide the name of the organism being submitted – Campylobacter, E. coli O157, non-O157 shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella, Shigella, specific genus and/or species of Enterobacteriaceae, etc.
Limitations
Storage and Transport
Label the specimen container with the patient’s full name, date of collection and one other unique identifier such as the patient’s date of birth or Health Card Number. Failure to provide this information may result in rejection or testing delay.
Special Instructions
Specimens should be stored at 2-8°C following collection and shipped to PHOL on ice packs.
Test Frequency and Turnaround Time (TAT)
Enteric bacterial speciation is performed Monday to Friday.
Screening of non-O157 shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) twice a week.
Turnaround time is up to 10 days from receipt at the PHO laboratory.
Specimens are tested by conventional bacterial culture.
Bacterial identification includes Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), biotyping and serotyping procedures.
Screening of non-O157 shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is performed by PCR.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is routinely performed on Shigella and Vibrio.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is routinely performed on Salmonella Typhi, and Salmonella Paratyphi and for clinical indications (from blood or sterile sites, infants <1 year old, immuno-compromised patients and hospitalized patients–if documented).
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on Campylobacter and Yersinia upon request only or for clinical indications (from blood or sterile sites, infants <1 year old, immuno-compromised patients and hospitalized patients – if documented).
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing on other bacteria is available upon request.
Reporting
Results are reported to the ordering physician or health care provider as indicated on the requisition.
Specimens that are positive for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, pathogenic Yersinia, E.coli O157:H7 and other shiga toxin producing E. coli, and Vibrio are reported to the Medical Officer of Health as per the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
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