The guidelines further recommend that in light of the substantial asymptomatic colonization rates in both children and adults, only stools from symptomatic patients should be tested. Indeed, the microbiology laboratory at the Children’s Hospital Colorado adheres strictly to this guidance, refusing to test formed stool samples.
Repeat testing because of a suspected initial false-positive result is discouraged in the guidelines, as is a test-for-cure at the end of treatment, since virus, toxins, and genome are shed for weeks after the diarrhea is resolved.
"We see a lot of this test-for-cure at our hospital. However, testing for cure is not recommended in the guidelines and should not be done in most cases," Dr. Dominguez emphasized.
He reported having no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.