Enteric Outbreak Kit order#: 390036

Consistent with O. Reg. 671/92 of the French Language Services Act, test ordering and instructions on this page is only available in English because it is scientific or technical in nature and is for use only by qualified health care providers and not by members of the public.

Instructions: 

  1. Remove the specimen collection vial(s) from the biohazard bag. 
  2. Specimens should be collected as follows:
    1. Infants/Toddlers (not toilet trained) – Collect faeces sample from soiled diaper or directly from “potty”.
    2. Older Children/Adults – Instruct the patient to defecate into a clean container.
      NOTE: Faeces specimens that have been in contact with water in toilet are unacceptable.
  3. Using the spatula on the lid of each vial, select different sites of the faeces specimen, preferably blood, mucus or pus, and transfer to the vials as follows:
    1. Bacteriology: GREEN-capped Cary-Blair vial with red-coloured transport medium. A collecting device (plastic spatula) is fitted inside the cap.
      1. Add faeces up to the line indicated. Do not overfill.
      2. Mix into transport medium.
      3. Replace and tighten cap.
    2. Virology/Toxin: empty WHITE-capped vial with a plastic spatula. 
      1. Add faeces up to the line indicated. Do not overfill.
      2. Replace and tighten cap.
    3. Parasitology (use if a parasitic agent is suspected – see note above): YELLOW-capped SAF vial with clear liquid preservative and plastic spatula. (Note: The YELLOW-capped SAF vial should always be accompanied by a WHITE-capped vial.)
      1. Add faeces up to the line indicated. Do no overfill.
      2. Mix well into the liquid. Replace and tighten cap.
  4. Label each specimen vial with the date of collection, the patient’s full name and one other unique identifier such as the patient’s date of birth or Health Insurance Number. Identifier information must match the same information placed on the General Test Requisition. Failure to provide this information may result in specimen rejection or testing delay. 
  5. Complete all fields of the requisition. Include the patient’s full name, date of birth, Health Insurance Number (must match the specimen label). Enter all or any of the following suspected agents under test requested: bacterial, viral, parasitic (if parasitic agent is suspected). Complete the information fields for submitter, public health investigator information, outbreak number, specimen type and site, patient setting and reason for test including clinical information. 
  6. Place specimen containers in the biohazard bag and seal bag.
  7. Insert the completed requisition in the pocket on the outside of the sealed biohazard bag. 
  8. Refrigerate specimens immediately. Do not freeze specimens. 
  9. Send specimens to the local public health unit or Public Health Ontario Laboratory as soon as possible.
  10. For further information about Enteric Outbreak specimen collection and testing refer to the Test Directory Index.

Storage of unused kits:

The kits can be stored at room temperature with stated expiry date - DO NOT USE EXPIRED KITS.

This supply pack is sufficient for the collection of faecal specimens for the identification of bacterial, and viral causing agents of gastroenteritis outbreaks for a single patient. The kit contains one green-capped vial for bacterial testing, and one white-capped vial for viral, Clostridium perfringens, and enterotoxin testing.

Note: If a parasitic agent is suspected, add a yellow-capped SAF vial for parasitology testing. Yellow-capped SAF vials are available as components of the Routine Parasitology Kit (order # 390033), which should be disassembled and the yellow-capped SAF vials used to supplement the Enteric Outbreak Kit as required. Each Routine Parasitology Kit contains three yellow-capped SAF vials. Use one vial per patient. Routine Parasitology Kits may be ordered by contacting your local Public Health Ontario laboratory, phol.warehouse@oahpp.ca or by Fax (416) 235-5753.

All vials, including the yellow-capped SAF vial when applicable, are submitted using a single General Test Requisition

contact lab

Contact Laboratory Customer Service

Laboratory Services

customerservicecentre@oahpp.ca

contact lab

To order kits or for more information

phol.warehouse@oahpp.ca

Toll Free: 1-877-604-4567

Fax: 416-235-5753

Updated 2 Oct 2020