Page "Cholera" Paragraph 18

Stool and swab samples collected in the acute stage of the disease, before antibiotics have been administered, are the most useful specimens for laboratory diagnosis.

If an epidemic of cholera is suspected, the most common causative agent is V. cholerae O1.

If V. cholerae serogroup O1 is not isolated, the laboratory should test for V. cholerae O139.

However, if neither of these organisms is isolated, it is necessary to send stool specimens to a reference laboratory.