C.Difficile Antigen

Pathology category

Microbiology - Virology

Code

GDH

Referral code

Request form

ICE request form. Please include all relevant clinical details, including any current antibiotic treatment. If the patient is currently in hospital, please specify whether the patient has been in hospital for more or less than 3 days.

Test information

Stage 1: GDH antigen testing. This test detects a cell wall antigen common to all strains of C. difficile. If the result is negative, no further testing is required and the lab will issue a negative report. Stage 2 and 3: If the stool sample is GDH positive, a toxin assay/PCR test will be performed to confirm if the strain is able to produce the disease-causing toxin. Tests performed in a UKAS Accredited Medical Laboratory No. 8873.

Guidelines

Trust Policy:

Policy for the Management of Clostridiodes difficile Infection (CDI) and Transmission Prevention

NICE Guidelines:

Antimicrobial prescribing strategy for managing Clostridioides difficile infection

Pre-analytical

If a delay occurs in delivering the sample to the laboratory, please refrigerate. Only unformed stools will be tested for C. difficile.If C. difficile is suspected do NOT wait for the test result before isolating the patient and commencing anti C. treatment, particularly in patients who are systemically unwell.

Reference range

Tube type

Tube type info

Sterile stool container

Special requirements

Patients who have tested positive in the last 28 days will not be retested. In addition, patients who tested negative in the last 7 days will not be retested unless express permission is sought from a medical microbiologist.

Minimum volume

1ml

Assay frequency

Daily

TAT Inpatient (urgent)

24 hours

TAT Inpatient

24 hours

TAT GP/Outpatient

24 hours

Referral lab