Impact of Changes in Clostridium difficile Testing Practices on Stool Rejection Policies and C. difficile Positivity Rates across Multiple Laboratories in the United States

Abstract

We describe the adoption of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for Clostridium difficile diagnosis and their impact on stool rejection policies and C. difficile positivity rates. Of the laboratories with complete surveys, 51 (43%) reported using NAAT in 2011. Laboratories using NAAT had stricter rejection policies and increased positivity rates.