Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel 

• C. difficile is not included in this panel
• When C. difficile infection (CDI), is suspected, a separate C. difficile test should be ordered (CDPCR) as per local hospital guidelines using appropriate test codes.
• Patient should not use antacids, barium, bismuth, antibiotics, anti-malarial agents, antidiarrheal medication or oily laxatives prior to specimen collection.  After administration of any of these compounds, specimen collection should be delayed for 5 to 10 days, or at least two weeks after barium or antibiotics.

BFGI

GI Panel PCR

•           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)


 

Liquid or soft stool specimen collected in Carey Blair (ParaPak C&S media)

0.2 mL in Cary-Blair transport media

Collect stool preserved in Cary-Blair medium by using the medium manufacturer’s recommended collection procedure or collect unpreserved and unformed (liquid or soft) stool specimens and place as soon as possible into the Cary-Blair medium by using the medium manufacturer’s recommended collection procedure. It is recommended that Cary-Blair preserved specimens be stored refrigerated at 2-8oC until GI testing is completed (for up to 4 days after collection). Patient should not use antacids, barium, bismuth, antibiotics, anti-malarial agents, antidiarrheal medication or oily laxatives prior to specimen collection.  After administration of any of these compounds, specimen collection should be delayed for 5 to 10 days, or at least two weeks after barium or antibiotics. Avoid contamination of stool specimen with urine or water.  Specimens are best collected in a bedpan or a clean dry container.  A suitable area (i.e. bloody, slimy, watery) from the sides, ends and middle of the stool should be selected using the collection spoon provided.  Fill with sufficient stool to bring the liquid level up to the “Fill” line.  This will result in approximately 5 mL of sample.  Stir each specimen with the spoon provided, tighten the cap and shake firmly until the specimen is adequately mixed.  When mixing is complete the specimen should appear uniform.  Complete the label on the vial and replace the vial in the plastic bag.  Transport the specimen to the laboratory.

Specimen collected in Cary-Blair medium per manufacturer’s instructions.

Room temperature: Stable for up to 4 days in Cary-Blair
Refrigerated: Stable up to 4 days

If raw specimen received > 1 hour from collect time.
Formed stool.

Daily

Daily

Not detected

Despite advances in food safety, sanitation, and medical treatment, infectious gastroenteritis remains a significant problem in industrialized countries among all age groups. In the United States, around 76 million cases of foodborne disease, resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, are estimated to occur each year. Additionally, there are over 300,000 C. difficile diagnoses per year in the US4 resulting in estimated costs of at least $1 billion.  Globally, infectious diarrheal illness is a significant cause of mortality in young children resulting in an estimated 800,000 deaths per year in children under the age of 5. In addition to this significant morbidity and mortality, diarrhea in children contributes to malnutrition, increased susceptibility to other infections, and may lead to delays in growth and intellectual development.