How are Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections diagnosed?
The diagnosis of this illness is made by taking stool samples from a sick person. The stool sample is allowed to grow more bacteria, then it is studied in a laboratory. The Texas Department of State Health Services is asking physicians to send stool samples from people who may have this illness to a laboratory. Laboratories must perform a special test on the stool sample to see if the sickness was caused by this bacteria. The Health Department has told doctors to suspect this illness when patients complain of diarrhea with fever, if the patient has eaten raw seafood.
