Laboratory Testing for C. perfringens

Key points

  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø 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

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø offers limited laboratory testing for C. perfringens food poisoning.

  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø only tests specimens linked to foodborne outbreaks.
  • ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø accepts specimens from state public health laboratories and other federal agencies.

Private healthcare providers and institutions may submit specimens directly to the ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø 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)