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Food Outbreak Testing

Updated

4/13/2010

Other Names
Food testing; Food poisoning; Foodborne Outbreak Investigation 
How to Order
Check the appropriate box under FOOD/ ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING (R/O) section of the General Microbiology Request Form. Specify outbreak number.
Availability
County and State Epidemiology Offices
Methodology
Standard FDA/AOAC/USDA/FERN and LRN reference procedures for culture, serology, and PCR
Performed
Daily, on regular business days
Time to Reporting
3 to 6 working days
CPT Code
87045, 87046, 87075, 87076, 87147, 87801


Specimen Collection Details

Collection
Food (call for instructions) or stool (approx. 2 oz. in Enteric Pathogen Transport media). For S. aureus, B. cereus and C. perfringens, if stool is to be tested, submit raw stool (no transport medium).
Optimal Volume
Food; unopened package including brand information, lot numbers and expiration date. Stool; (approx. 5 ml/2 oz. in Enteric Pathogen Transport media).
Minimum Volume
Food; a minimum of 25 grams; Stool; a swab in EPT media.
Handling
Hold food or stool samples at 2-8°C.  Detailed instructions for collection and submission of specimens can be found at
http://public.health.oregon.gov/LaboratoryServices/Documents/enteric.pdf
Transport
Wet ice
Rejection Criteria
Leaking containers, unlabeled specimens, specimens without county or state epidemiology authorization or specimens submitted with incomplete requisition forms will not be processed.
Comments
Hold food or stool samples at 2-8°C.  Detailed instructions for collection and submission of specimens can be found at http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/phl/docs/enteric.pdf"