Test Selection and Interpretation in the Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-Associated Colitis

Clostridium difficile survives only for a short period in routinely stored fecal samples, although its toxins are quite stable. If there is to be a delay from sample collection to processing, C. difficile may not be cultured but C. difficile toxins should be present. Therefore, toxin-positive, culture-negative results should be considered diagnostic for C. difficile-associated colitis. Dept. of Clinical Studies (Weese and Staempfli) and Dept. of Pathobiology (Prescott), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. r 1999 AAEP.