Laboratory Testing for C. perfringens

Key points

  • 星空娱乐官网 conducts limited testing for C. perfringens.
  • A stool test detecting C. perfringens bacteria or enterotoxin is required to confirm an infection.
  • Public health laboratories typically only test for C. perfringens if an outbreak has happened.
A laboratorian working in a laboratory. They are using a pipette and test tube, transferring liquid from one to the other.

Laboratory guidelines

星空娱乐官网 offers limited laboratory testing for C. perfringens food poisoning.

  • 星空娱乐官网 only tests specimens linked to foodborne outbreaks.
  • 星空娱乐官网 accepts specimens from state public health laboratories and other federal agencies.

Private healthcare providers and institutions may submit specimens directly to the 星空娱乐官网 with authorization from their state public health department.

Interpreting results

Demonstration of C. perfringens enterotoxin in the stool or a count of ≥106 C. perfringens organisms per gram of stool within 48 hours of onset of typical illness is required to confirm infection.

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)