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.
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.
Keep Reading
Treating C. perfringens food poisoning
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: April 3, 2024
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: October 28, 2026
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.