Shiga toxin PCR !!! NOTE: The contents are valid only for: 10/15/2026 !!!
| WSLH Department: | CDD - Communicable Disease Division |
| WSLH Test Code: | MP00545 |
| Day(s) Performed: | Weekly |
| Turn-around Time: | 1-7 days |
| Recommended Uses: | Detection of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria in stool specimens from cases of community-acquired diarrhea and cases with suspected or confirmed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Confirmation of Shiga toxin detected via EIAs or other testing methods (i.e., molecular syndromic panels). |
| Pre-approval: | No |
| Contraindications: | Asymptomatic individuals |
| Additional Tests Performed: |
Whole genome sequencing is automatically performed on all recovered isolates for public health surveillance. There will be no additional charge and no report to the submitter for this testing. |
| Preparation for Collection: | |
| Specimen Requirements: | Stool specimens in Cary Blair transport media Enrichment broth (e.g., GN or MacConkey broth) Bacterial isolates (known or suspected to produce Shiga Toxin) |
| Collection Instructions: | Collect stool specimens according to instructions in Kit #10. Refer to instructions used at your facility for proper inoculation and handling of enrichment broths. |
| Collection Kit/Container: |
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| Requisition Form: |
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| Required Information: | Laboratory regulations require the following minimum information to be provided on the requisition form for a specimen to be accepted for testing: Patient name or unique identifier, date and time of collection, patient date of birth and sex, specimen type/site of collection, test request(s), clinician name and UPIN, and address for reporting results. Please be certain that name/identifier on the form matches that on the specimen label which is required to have a minimum of two identifiers. |
| Rejection Criteria: | Unpreserved (raw) stool specimens |
| Specimen Handling: | Stools or enrichment broths should be stored refrigerated (2-8°C) and transported with frozen cold packs. Isolates may be stored and transported at ambient temperatures. |
| Packaging Requirements: | Cultures and isolates that are known to contain Shiga-toxin producing E. coli are Category A infectious substances and must be packaged according to current guidelines. Unknowns may be packaged as Category B depending on your lab’s procedures. |
| Courier Information: | Specimens, cultures, and isolates submitted for public health surveillance or outbreak investigations are eligible for fee-exempt courier service. Use the Purple Mountain portal to order a specimen pick up. |
| Specimen Receiving Hours: | Monday-Friday 6:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Results Include: | Shiga toxin 1 DNA detected/ not detected; Shiga toxin 2 DNA detected/ not detected; eae DNA detected/not detected; ehxA DNA detected/not detected |
| Limitations: | This assay is performed on isolates; stool specimens and enrichment broths will be cultured and Shiga toxin PCR performed on growth from culture plates. Cultures must be viable for testing. |
| Additional Tests Recommended: | |
| Additional Comments: | One positive isolate, stool, or enrichment broth per patient per year is requested for public heath surveillance. |
| Methodology: | Real-time PCR |
| Includes: | Real-time PCR for the detection of Shiga toxin 1 and Shiga toxin 2 genetic markers from isolates or stool specimens. Culture is performed on all submitted stool specimens. |
| Regulatory Compliance: | |
| CPT Code: | 87798x12 |
| Price: | $500.04 |
| Fee Exempt Eligible: | Yes, if submitted for public health surveillance or outbreak investigations. |
| Billing and Revenue Office: | 1-800-862-1065 arbill@slh.wisc.edu |