Microbiology

Preferred Sample Type

Clostridium Difficile GDH testing

Clostridium Difficile GDH testing

Specimen Volume

2ml of loose or liquid stool

Turnaround Time

Within 30 hours

Sample Stability

If transport is delayed, sample must be refrigerated for up to 48 hours

General Information

Testing for Clostridium difficile, (C.diff), is performed once daily, 7 days a week. Samples must arrive in the laboratory by 11 am to be included in the run.

Samples received after this time are not guaranteed to be processed the same day.

At least 2ml of loose or liquid stool is required. Formed samples are unsuitable for testing.

  • Samples are NOT tested for C. difficile if they have been positive within the last 14 days.
  • Samples are NOT tested for C. difficile if they have been negative within the last 3 days

Results are communicated electronically to Bed Management Teams and Infection Control

 

 

Information Sharing: If your sample needs to be referred or a notifiable disease is detected from your sample, your details and sample may be shared with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This is a legal requirement. The UKHSA is sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Specifications

  • EQA Status: Enrolled to UK NEQAS scheme
  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Tags

8_6_12_ Clostridium Difficile Bacteriology C Diff

Creation Date

Monday, 19 November 2018

Modification Date

Thursday, 22 February 2024

General Information

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Copyright UHB Pathology 2018

Protection of Personal Information – Clinical Laboratory Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • Musculoskeletal laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 9897
  • Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217.

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://qehbpathology.uk/test-database

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962