ASSAY OF FAECAL BACTERIA NUCLEIC ACID (F -BaktNhO), SAMPLE COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PATIENT

The sample is examined for bacterial pathogens of diarrhoea by a nucleic acid assay.

Sampling

Collect a small amount of stool into a green-capped Copan FecalSwab tube*. The kit contains a sampling swab and sample tube.

Keep the Copan FecalSwab tube* in room temperature before sample collection.

Defecate on a suitable clean surface (e.g. a disposable plate or a kidney dish) for sample collection.

Take the sample of diarrhoeic stool by dipping the tip of the flocked swab into the stool or of slightly more solid stool by dipping max. 1 cm of the tip of the flocked swab into the stool. Twirl the flocked swab in the liquid of  the Copan FecalSwab tube* to dissolve the stool in the tube. 

Note! Do not put too much stool in the tube. The liquid in the tube should turn yellowish or light brown, but the substance might stay a very light colour in the case of watery diarrhoea (see the image). Do not leave the swab inside the tube, even if the packaging instructions suggest otherwise, this may lead to collecting an excessive sample volume.

Seal the tube carefully.

Image 1. Appropriate amount of sample (color image)

1: Appropriate amount of sample: only watery diarrhoea (not enough in other cases)
2-3: Appropriate amount of sample (transparent or translucent): solid/soft/diarrhoeic stool
4-5: Too much sample (cloudy)

Note! An appropriate amount of sample does not increase the tube's original liquid volume.

The name label is necessary for identifying the sample

Stick a label on to the Copan FecalSwab tube*. Write on it:

• your name
• your social security number
• date of sample

After sample collection, place the Copan FecalSwab tube* in a plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly. Store the sample at a refrigerator temperature (+2ºC - +8 ºC) and deliver it to the laboratory as soon as possible (no later than on the next working day). After sampling, the sample will keep for three days in a refrigerator temperature.

Further information

* In exceptional cases (e.g. supply issues), the black-capped DeltaSwab Cary Blair tube may be used instead of the green-capped Copan FecalSwab tube. The sampling procedure is exactly the same for both tubes.

For more information, please contact the customer service of Fimlab Laboratoriot Oy, tel. 010 808 515 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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