1. Only one order for this test is allowed within 7 days even if the patient has been discharged or readmitted
   • Repeat testing of negatives is unlikely to recover pathogens due to high test sensitivity
2. Only one order for this test is allowed within 14 days of a previously Positive result even if the patient has been discharged or readmitted
   • This assay is not intended for use as a test of cure

*Testing will be autocanceled if these rules apply. If testing is still indicated, contact the on-call Microbiology Medical Director for approval.

• Campylobacter species
  • Detects C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. upsaliensis, but does not differentiate species
• Plesiomonas shigelloides
• Salmonella species
  • Detects S. enterica and S. bongori, but does not differentiate serotypes.
• Vibrio species
  • Detects V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae. Only V. cholerae is detected separately, if positive.
• Yersinia enterocolitica
• Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)
• Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)
• Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) lt/st
• Shiga-like Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) stx1/stx2
  • This group includes E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC) and other Shiga- or Shiga-like toxin-producing E. coli
• Shigella species / Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
  • Detects S. dysenteriae, S. flexneri, S. boydii, and S. sonnei, but does not differentiate species
  • Also detects enteroinvasive E. coli, but does not differentiate from Shigella

• Cryptosporidium species
• Cyclospora cayetensis
• Entamoeba histolytica
• Giardia lamblia
  • Also known as G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis

• Adenovirus F (40/41)
• Astrovirus
• Norovirus GI/GII
• Rotavirus A
• Sapovirus (I, II, IV, and V)

1. More than one specimen within 7 days
2. Specimens from patients previously Positive for the GI Panel within the last 14 days
3. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
   • Specimens received in fixative-containing transport media or transport media other than Cary Blair
     • Specimens received in Formalin or PVA vials
   • Fresh stools collected in sterile containers
   • Leaking specimens
   • Co-mingled specimens
   • Specimens not received within 4 days of collection, unless stored and transported frozen
4. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

• Room Temperature: 4 days
• Refrigerated: 4 days
• Frozen at -70°C: 3 months

1. When labeling specimens, ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation and not covering important information
2. Leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the volume and sample integrity

1. Collect the soft or liquid stool into a sterile container
2. Unscrew the cap on the Cary Blair Transport Medium Container and use the scoop attached underneath the cap to transfer stool into the container, filling it up to the red fill-line indicator

• Do NOT over-fill the collection container above the red line
• Do NOT discard the pink preservative media inside the container

3. Screw the cap on tightly to the Cary Blair Transport Medium Tube to prevent leakage

1. The results of this test should not be the sole basis for making clinical treatment decisions, and should be used in conjunction with other clinical findings
2. Positive results do not rule out co-infection with pathogens not detected by the test
3. Negative results do not preclude infection with any pathogen