Test Details
Mnemonic
HELPY
Ordering Code
3700454
CPT-4 Code(s)
87338
Specimen Information
Patient Preparation
For initial diagnostic purposes no special preparation is required. Patients are not required to be off of medications or to fast before this test. While positive test results from patients taking agents such as proton pump inhibitors and antimicrobials should be considered accurate, false negative results may be obtained. For this reason, physicians may suggest the patient go off medications for two weeks and repeat test if negative results are obtained. To confirm eradication, testing should be done at least 4 weeks following the completion of treatment. However, a positive test result 7 days post therapy is indicative of treatment failure. This test is cleared for use with specimens from pediatric patients.
Collect
Stool
Specimen Preparation
Collect 0.5 mL or 0.5 grams of semi-solid stool or 20 mm diameter stool and send frozen in a
screw capped polypropylene container. Please contact Warde Lab for polypropylene screw capped containers for shipping frozen stool. Polystyrene containers are unacceptable for frozen
shipping.
screw capped polypropylene container. Please contact Warde Lab for polypropylene screw capped containers for shipping frozen stool. Polystyrene containers are unacceptable for frozen
shipping.
Alternate Specimen
Cary-Blair stool culture transport medium
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL or 0.5 g semi solid stool, 20 mm solid stool
Transport Temperature
Unpreserved: Frozen
Cary-Blair: Room temperature
Cary-Blair: Room temperature
Rejection Criteria
Watery, diarrheal stool, stool in preservative, transport media or swab
Stability
Unpreserved:
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen: 14 days
Cary-Blair:
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen: 14 days
Cary-Blair:
Room temperature: 4 days
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Methodology
Immunoassay
Reference Range
See report
Performing Laboratory
Quest
New York DOH Approval Status
Yes