Stool. Collect in a stool container. 1.0-5.0 mL for fresh stool; 10.0 mL stool in Cary-Blair or Enteric Plus transport media.

Leaking container, multiple specimens (> 1 per inpatient stay or collected greater than 5 days after admission), delayed transport to lab without use of appropriate preservative, transport other than Cary-Blair or Enteric Plus.  Stool contaminated with urine.  Diapers are not acceptable.

 

Transport unpreserved stool at room temperature to lab within 2 hours of collection. If transport delayed greater than 2 hours, preserve in enteric transport media, Para-Pak Enteric Plus, or Cary Blair equivalent. Stable in transport media at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 4 days.

 

Once in transport media, stable at room temperature or refrigerated up to 4 days.

Microbiology.  Daily per shift.  Results within shift; during peak seasons or outbreaks within 24 hours.

If Aeromonas species is suspected, order Culture, Aeromonas (ARMCU).  GI Panel does not include Aeromonas.

If Norovirus or Adenovirus is specifically desired, please order Norwalk Virus Detection (NVDET) or Adenovirus DNA Detection, specimens other than blood (ADVOT), respectively.

 

Ordering individual tests available on the panel are considered duplicate testing and not recommended.  Multiple specimens for testing is not recommended and unacceptable.  This test replaces routine Stool Culture, Yersinia Culture, Vibrio Culture, and Ova & Parasite antigen screening for Giardia and Cryptospodium.

If the Clostridium difficile target is detected, the Clostridium difficile toxin order (CDTXAG) is automatically reflexed.

Microbiology.  Daily per shift.  Results within shift; during peak seasons or outbreaks within 24 hours.

Film Array mutiplexed PCR

Positive results reported as soon as detected.  Results within shift; during peak season or outbreaks within 24 hours.

Not Detected

Targets tested in panel are listed below:

Campylobacter species (C. jejuni/C. coli/C. upsaliensis) - if detected, a culture is automatically reflexed for recovery and susceptibility testing,

Clostridium difficile - If detected, the Clostridium difficile toxin order (CDTXAG) is automatically reflexed

Plesiomonas shigelloides

Salmonella species

Vibrio species    (V. parahaemolyticus/V. vulnificus/V. cholerae)

Vibrio cholerae  (Species identification)

Yersinia enterocolitica

Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) lt/st

Shiga-like producing E. coli (STEC) stx1/stx2

E. coli O157  (specific identification from STEC)

Shigella/Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) - if detected, a culture is automatically reflexed for recovery and susceptibility testing,

Cryptosporidium species

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)