Diagnosing C. perfringens food poisoning

Key points

  • C. perfringens food poisoning is diagnosed by a laboratory test.
  • Most illnesses are not diagnosed because testing for C. perfringens is not common.
A laboratorian sitting and plating bacteria on a medium.

Lab testing

C. perfringens food poisoning is diagnosed when a laboratory test detects the bacteria or toxin

  • in a patient's stool (poop) sample
  • in food linked to a patient's illness

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is not common for several reasons:

  • Most people with C. perfringens food poisoning do not seek medical care or provide a stool sample for testing.
  • Most clinical laboratories do not test for C. perfringens.
  • Usually, public health laboratories test for C. perfringens only if an outbreak happens.
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