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C. DIFFICILE DIAGNOSTICS

Clostridium difficile is the major cause of nosocomial diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis

C. difficile infection usually occurrs when the normal microflora of the intestinal tract is altered or killed by antibiotics. Once C. difficile growth begins, toxins A and B are produced, causing diarrhea and colitis.

Toxigenic strains of C. difficile carry the genes encoding the toxins. The disease results from the toxins that the organism produces. C. difficile produces two main toxins, toxin A and toxin B. Toxin A is a weakly cytotoxic enterotoxin. C. difficile also produces toxin B, which is a cytotoxin. Toxin B can be detected by the tissue culture assay. Toxigenic C. difficile strains produce both toxins or only toxin B.

The disease can be treated with antibiotics, but relapses are common.

Read more about The Importance of C. difficile Diagnostics
Read more about a complete stand-alone 2-step C. difficile algorithm in one test

c. diff wiggly
C. diff algorithms, result interpretation, reporting changes

Watch Now

Speaker: Dr. James Snyder, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine University of Louisville School of Medicine
This PACE-accredited webinar will:
• Provide a comprehensive overview of C. difficle diagnostic testing methods and how to interpret test results
• Describe how these diagnostic methods align with current best practices published by the ACGT Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Explore the latest updates and coming changes to the NHSN C. diff reporting guidelines

TECHLAB produces a panel of in vitro diagnostics for detecting C. difficile and its toxins in fecal specimens from patients suspected of having the disease.

Rapid Tests

C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE®

C. DIFF QUIK CHEK®

TOX A/B QUIK CHEK®

Microassay Plates

Tissue Culture Assays

C. DIFF CHEK™- 60
C. DIFFICILE TOX A/B II ™
C. DIFFICILE TOX-B TEST

C. difficile diagnostics details

Product NameCatalog #Suggested CPT Code*Tests/KitAnalyte(s) DetectedFormatTime to ResultFecal Sample Type
C. DIFF QUIK CHEK COMPLETE ®T30525C/30525C, T30550C/30550C, T30525C-J, T30525CM87324 and 8744925 or 50Toxins A&B GDHRapid EIA< 30 minFresh fecal sample (unpreserved) / Cary Blair / C&S
C. DIFF QUIK CHEK ®303908744925GDHRapid EIA< 30 minFresh fecal sample (unpreserved)
TOX A/B QUIK CHEK ®T5033/303948732425Toxins A&BRapid EIA< 30 minFresh fecal sample (unpreserved) / Cary Blair / C&S
C. DIFF CHEK ™ - 60TL5025/30392, 30392B/T5025B8744996GDHMicroplate ELISA1hr, or 30 min
(rapid format)		Fresh fecal sample (unpreserved)
C. DIFFICILE TOX A/B II ™T5015/30397, T5015B/30397B8732496Toxins A&BMicroplate ELISA1hr, or 30 min
(rapid format)		Fresh fecal sample (unpreserved)
C. DIFFICILE TOX-B TESTT50038723096Toxin BTissue Culture24-48hrsFresh fecal sample (unpreserved) / Cary Blair / C&S
How to buy TECHLAB® diagnostics ›
Additional C. difficile resources:

Importance of Stool Toxin Testing by J.H. Boone, TECHLAB

Evaluation of Diagnostic Tests for Clostridium difficile Infection by Jonathan Swindells, Nigel Brenwald, Nathan Reading, and Beryl Oppenheim, Journal of Clinical Microbiology

C. DIFF QUIK CHECK COMPLETE® Enzyme Immunoassay Provides a Reliable First-Line Method for Detection of Clostridium difficile in Stool Specimens by Criziel D. Quinn, Susan E. Sefers, Wisal Babiker, Ying He, Romina Alcabasa, Charles W. Stratton, Karen C. Carroll, and Yi-Wei Tang, Journal of Clinical Microbiology