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Do we need to collect serum for testing? |
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No. Unlike adults with foodborne or wound botulism, patients with infant botulism generally have an undetectable concentration of circulating toxin. However, there may be rare circumstances when serum is specially requested. |
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Do we need to freeze the specimen before it is shipped? |
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No. Do not freeze specimens at any time. |
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Who pays for overnight delivery or courier service? |
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The submitting institution (in accord with established California public health laboratory practice.). |
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How much does this laboratory test cost? |
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There is no charge for this service by the California Department of Public Health. |
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How long does it take to receive results? |
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Direct toxin results are often, but not always, available the morning following receipt of the specimen. Results of the stool culture for C. botulinum may take as little as one-week or as long as one-month to complete and varies from case to case. IBTPP will notify the patient's physician by phone as soon as the direct toxin results are available. A final report is issued once the full analysis is complete; this report is sent to the submitting laboratory. |
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Does my hospital laboratory (California ONLY) need to send diagnostic stool specimens for infant botulism testing to my local public health laboratory first? |
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No. Please send all diagnostic stool specimens from California patients directly to the IBTPP laboratory at CDHS (please see laboratory information pages). Please note that a laboratory analysis will be conducted only on those specimens that have received prior authorization for testing by an IBTPP physician. Do not submit "unannounced" specimens as they will not be tested. Thank you. |
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Is the Infant Botulism Laboratory a section of the Microbial Disease Laboratory (MDL) at California Department of Public Health? |
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No. The Infant Botulism Laboratory (IBL) is part of the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program and is administratively separate from the MDL. Specimens from suspected cases of foodborne or wound botulism need to be submitted to the MDL for testing. Please contact your local public health laboratory to make arrangements for MDL testing of suspected cases of foodborne or wound botulism. |
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