Campylobacter spp.

Testing site      

Alaska State Public Health Laboratory – Anchorage 

Anchorage Lab Request Form 

Diseases 

Campylobacteriosis 

Organisms 

• Campylobacter jejuni 
• Campylobacter species 

Test Method 

Culture

Availability

Routine testing   

Specimen type 

• Pure isolates (Cary Blair Transport Swabs) 
• Stool in ETM (see instructions below) 

Specimen collection instructions

Please read all directions first and follow them carefully.

Stool collection instructions

• The collection set may contain 1 to 4 vials. One of the vials may be empty (contains no liquid). 
• Gather supplies:
  • Gloves
  • A clean, dry container (like a margarine tub) or plastic wrap to stretch across the toilet to collect the stool.
  • A red top vial transport container(s).

Supply Request Form

• Please wash your hands before collecting the stool sample.  
  • Do not pass the specimen into the toilet.  
  • Do not pass the specimen directly into the collection vial.  
  • Do not urinate on the specimen or into the collection vial.  
  • Do not allow any water to mix with the specimen.  
• Put on gloves. Stool can contain material that spreads infection.
• Pass stool into a clean, dry container. You can stretch plastic wrap loosely across the toilet bowl, between the seat and the base to catch the stool.
  • Either solid or liquid stool can be collected.  
  • Samples from babies and young children may be collected from diapers lined with plastic wrap (if the stool is not contaminated with urine).  
• Carefully open each vial
  • Use the spoon attached to the lid and collect small amounts of stool from all areas, capturing areas that are slimy, bloody or watery. If the stool is liquid, carefully pour to the fill line indicated on the container.  
  • If the stool is solid, use the paddle on the container cap to scoop a walnut size amount into the vial.  
  • If one vial contains no liquid, fill to at least 1/3 of the container.  
  • Do not overfill the vials or mix up the vial lids.  
• Screw the cap tightly onto the transport container it came from. Shake the sample until the samples are well-mixed with the liquid in the vial.  
• Remove your gloves and wash your hands.  
• Label all of the containers with the patient’s first and last name, date of birth, and the collection date.  
• Return the transport containers as directed. Make certain that all the vials are tightly capped to avoid leaks. 

Storage and transport  

• Ship stool at ambient temperature 
• Ship isolates on cold packs 
• Package, label, and ship as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B 

Ship to: Anchorage Public Health Laboratory, ATNN: Clinical Microbiology 

Results  

• Campylobacter jejuni 
• Campylobacter species 
• No Campylobacter species isolated 

 A normal result is no Campylobacter species isolated. 

Turnaround time  

2-5 days 

Notes

 A laboratory that isolates Campylobacter must submit an isolate or an aliquot of the original specimen to the public health laboratory in Anchorage. 

Resources