Yersinia Culture

Stool, Fecal, Diarrhea

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231196

Department

Microbiology

Instructions

This test is a supplemental test to the Stool Culture (LAB1231037) for patients suspected of having gastrointestinal infection with Yersinia enterocolitica. It should not be ordered by itself.

This test is not intended for the diagnosis of Yersinia pestis. If plague is suspected, contact the microbiology department for instructions.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Random stool specimen, about the size of a walnut, placed in a container with Cary-Blair transport medium. Specimens not in Cary-Blair transport medium must be placed in a sterile collection container, refrigerated, and sent to the Laboratory immediately.

• Do not contaminate the exterior of the container with the specimen.
• Do not place toilet tissue in the container with the specimen.
• Do not contaminate the specimen with urine.
• If the patient has taken antibiotics, barium, oil, or magnesium compounds, delay the collection of stool specimens for at least 7 days.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Stool in Cary-Blair transport medium — maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Stool NOT in Cary-Blair transport medium — must be refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) and received in the Laboratory within 2 hours of collection – NO EXCEPTIONS.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Stool specimen in Cary-Blair medium at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Unpreserved specimens (regardless of temperature storage) received in the laboratory more than 2 hours after collection.
• Frozen specimens (preserved or unpreserved).
• Stool collected following a soap suds enema.
• Stool containing barium from a previous x-ray.
• Stool in diapers.
• Stool culture on inpatients that have been hospitalized greater than three days.
• The Laboratory will only test one specimen per patient per 24-hour period.

The Laboratory will not test more than two specimens per patient per diarrheal episode without prior consultation with one of the Microbiology Laboratory Directors.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2 hours (Unpreserved)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 96 hours (Preserved/ Cary-Blair)

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 2 hours (Unpreserved)
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 96 hours (Preserved/ Cary-Blair)

Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable (Unpreserved or Preserved/ Cary-Blair)

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 4 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday.
Preliminary results available within 1-2 days.
Final negative results available within 2 days.

Reference Range

No Yersinia recovered.

Test Methodology

Culture.

Clinical Utility

Yersinia culture can be used to diagnose gastrointestinal infections with Yersinia sp., but is not useful for the diagnosis of Yersinia pestis (plague).

Clinical Disease

Patients with Yersinia sp. infections commonly present with enterocolitis. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea which can be bloody and can persist for weeks), and fever. Some patients, particularly children, may present with sore throat. Mesenteric adenitis has been described.

Reference

https://www.cdc.gov/yersinia/hcp/clinical-overview/

CPT Codes

87046

Contacts

Last Updated

11/3/2025