Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, PCR, Feces
Use
The Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel is used for the rapid detection of gastrointestinal infections known to cause diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and fever. This multiplex PCR test detects DNA or RNA of 22 gastrointestinal pathogens including bacteria, parasites, and viruses in approximately 1 hour. The panel is useful for diagnosing infections caused by organisms such as Campylobacter species, Clostridioides difficile, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella species, Vibrio species, Yersinia species, and several pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, among others. False negatives and false positives may occur due to DNA/RNA detection limitations and nonviable organism presence.
Special Instructions
Specimens must arrive within 4 days of collection and should not be frozen. Testing is canceled on specimens received frozen or unpreserved. If using collection media other than specified, testing may be canceled. For supplementary testing, local public health requirements may apply, and clients are advised to retain an aliquot of submitted specimens for additional testing if needed.
Limitations
The panel does not test for all potential infectious agents of diarrheal disease. False negatives can occur due to strains with sequence variability or genetic rearrangements. Positive results do not differentiate viable from nonviable organisms and may indicate asymptomatic carriage or coinfections. Detection is influenced by proper specimen collection, handling, transportation, storage, and preparation.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
PCR-based (Multiplex PCR)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 82195-9
- 31208-2
- 82196-7
- 82197-5
- 82198-3
- 82199-1
- 82200-7
- 82201-5
- 82202-3
- 80349-4
- 80348-6
- 80351-0
- 82203-1
- 82204-9
- 80350-2
- 82205-6
- 82206-4
- 82207-2
- 82208-0
- 82209-8
- 82210-6
- 82211-4
- 82212-2
- 82213-0
- 59464-8
Result Turnaround Time
1-2 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Stool
Volume
Not provided
Minimum Volume
1 mL
Container
Preferred: Specific modified Cary-Blair transport system; Acceptable: Approved Cary-Blair transport system (15 mL of non-nutritive transport medium)
Collection Instructions
Collect fresh fecal specimen, submit 1 gram or 5 mL in container with transport medium. Place feces in preservative within 2 hours of collection. Submit preserved feces in original container. Do not aliquot. If unpreserved specimens are received, testing will be canceled.
Storage Instructions
Specimen must arrive within 4 days of collection. Do not freeze.
Causes for Rejection
Unapproved transport media, copan swabs, products containing formalin, unpreserved stool.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 4 days |
| Refrigerated | 4 days |