Acceptable Sample Types

Do Not Use

Fresh Fecal Samples

Fecal specimens in Formalin-based fixative (e.g. sodium acetate formalin, 10% formalin, merthiolate-formalin)

Frozen Fecal Specimens

Fecal specimens in alcohol-based fixative (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol)

Specimens in transport media (Cary Blair, C&S)

Sample Storage Temperature

Acceptable Length of Storage

Comments

2°C - 8°C

72 hours

Ideal specimens are less than 24 hours old

Frozen ≤ -10°C

>72 hours

Thaw at room temperature.  Freezing and thawing multiple times may result in loss of specimen activity due to toxin degradation.