Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel

Message

Gastrointestinal infection

Test Code

GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) PANEL

Includes

• Campylobacter (C. jejuni/C. coli/C. upsaliensis)

• Plesiomonas shigelloides

• Salmonella

• Vibrio (V. parahaemolyticus/V. vulnificus/ V. cholerae), including specific identification of Vibrio cholerae

• Yersinia enterocolitica

• Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)

• Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC)

• Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) lt/st

• Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) stx1/stx2, including specific identification of the E. coli O157 serogroup within STEC

• Shigella/Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC)

• Cryptosporidium

• Cyclospora cayetanensis

• Entamoeba histolytica

• Giardia lamblia (also known as G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis)

• Adenovirus F 40/41

• Astrovirus

• Norovirus GI/GII

• Rotavirus A

• Sapovirus (Genogroups I, II, IV, and V)

Preferred Specimen

Raw non-formed stool in a sterile container or Cary Blair media

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Instructions

Raw non-formed stool in a sterile container or Cary Blair media. Stool must be sent to the lab immediately and refrigerated if a delay is going to occur. Refrigeration must be no more than 24 hours.

Transport Container

Stool aliquoted into small sterile Container or Cary Blair
Do not send stool in large toilet bowl collection containers

Transport Temperature

Refrigeration must be no more than 24 hours.

Specimen Stability

24 hours refrigerated. 4 days in Cary Blair.

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Sent in any stool transport media other than Cary Blair
Formed stool will be rejected.
Hospitalized for >72 hours

Methodology
Multiplex Nucleic acid PCR

Setup Schedule

Weekdays 7am-4pm
Weekends/Holidays 7am-2pm

Report Available

24 Hours from receipt in lab

Reference Range

Not detected

Clinical Significance

The GI PCR will be orderable to providers in lieu of stool cultures. If a GI PCR detects a bacterial isolate(s), then a reflexed stool culture will be performed to isolate pathogenic organisms for necessary susceptibility testing and/or send out confirmation and surveillance testing. Limitation noted that the culture may not grow the intended isolate due to overgrowth of normal bacterial flora or recombinant DNA. A disclaimer will be added to the report in these cases.

The C. difficile analyte will be restricted. Providers should order a C. diff PCR test if C. difficile antigen or toxin is suspected.

Providers should only be ordering the GI PCR when clinically indicated and the order will contain the following logic questions. Provider must answer YES to proceed with order.

1. Does the patient meet all the criteria listed below?

a. Has the patient has >3 loose/watery bowel movements in 24 hours.

b. Patient has not received laxatives or stool softeners in the past 36 hours.

c. C. difficile is not the leading suspected cause of diarrhea.

d. Hospitalized for <72 hours.

e. Patient is an outpatient or a long-term care patient.

Performing Laboratory
Test performed in the West Roxbury Microbiology Laboratory.
Contact: Microbiology, Supervisor: Scott Connolly, 857-203-5954.

Additional Information
Stool PCR Collection

Last Updated: June 16, 2025

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.