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Test Code GIP Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel, PCR, Feces

Useful For

Rapid detection of gastrointestinal infections caused by:

-Campylobacter species (Campylobacter jejuni/Campylobacter coli/Campylobacter upsaliensis)

-Clostridioides difficile toxin A/B

-Plesiomonas shigelloides

-Salmonella species

-Vibrio species (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae)

-Vibrio cholerae

-Yersinia species

-Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)

-Enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC)

-Enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC)

-Shiga toxin

-E coli O157

-Shigella/Enteroinvasive E coli (EIEC)

-Cryptosporidium species

-Cyclospora cayetanensis

-Entamoeba histolytica

-Giardia

-Adenovirus F 40/41

-Astrovirus

-Norovirus GI/GII

-Rotavirus A

-Sapovirus

 

This test is not recommended as a test of cure.

Method Name

Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Reporting Name

GI Pathogen Panel, PCR, F

Specimen Type

Fecal


Ordering Guidance


Infectious agent-based recommendations for testing:

If an infection with Vibrio species, including cholera is suspected, consider ordering VIBC/Vibrio Culture, Stool in conjunction with this test.

 

It is not recommended that the following tests be concomitantly ordered if this test is ordered:

-ROTA / Rotavirus Antigen, Feces

-LADV / Adenovirus, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-GIAR / Giardia Antigen, Feces

-CRYPS / Cryptosporidium Antigen, Feces

-CYCL / Cyclospora Stain, Feces

-STL / Enteric Pathogens Culture, Feces

-CAMPC / Campylobacter Culture, Feces

-SHIGC / Shigella Culture, Feces

-SALMC / Salmonella Culture, Feces

-YERSC / Yersinia Culture, Feces

-E157C / Escherichia coli O157:H7 Culture, Feces

-STFRP / Shiga Toxin, Molecular Detection, PCR, Feces

-CDPCR / Clostridioides difficile Toxin, PCR, Feces

-LNORO / Norovirus PCR, Molecular Detection, Feces



Additional Testing Requirements


In some cases, there may be local public health requirements that impact Mayo Clinic Laboratories (MCL) clients and require additional testing on specimens with positive results from this panel. Clients should familiarize themselves with local requirements. MCL recommends clients retain an aliquot of each specimen submitted for this test to perform additional testing themselves, as needed. If necessary, see Interpretation for detailed information about how to obtain this testing.



Shipping Instructions


Specimen must arrive within 96 hours of collection.

Do not freeze. Testing will be canceled on specimens received frozen.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Culture and Sensitivity Stool Transport Vial (T058)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Specific modified Cary Blair transport system; see Additional Information for acceptable collection media

Acceptable: Approved Cary Blair transport system (15 mL of non-nutritive transport medium containing phenol red as a pH indicator)

Specimen Volume: Representative portion of feces

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect fresh fecal specimen and submit 1 gram or 5 mL in container with transport medium.

2. Place feces in preservative within 2 hours of collection.

3. Submit preserved feces in original container. Do not aliquot.

4. If unpreserved specimens received, testing will be canceled.

Additional Information:

If collection media other than those listed is utilized, testing may be canceled. Media listed have been verified for use by Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Modified Cary Blair media:

Preferred: Culture and Sensitivity Stool Transport Vial (T058)

Acceptable: Meridian Para-Pak C and S, Cardinal Health Culture and Sensitivity Stool transport Vial

Cary Blair media: Remel Cary Blair, Remel; Protocol Cary Blair


Specimen Minimum Volume

1 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Fecal Ambient (preferred) 4 days
  Refrigerated  4 days

Reject Due To

Unapproved commercial transport media (eg, AlphaTec Enteric Transport Medium [ETM], Para-Pak Enteric Plus, Medical Chemical Corporation C and S Transport Medium [MCC])
Copan FecalSwab/ESwab
Products containing formalin (eg, Sodium Acetate-Acetic Acid Formalin fixative [SAF]; PolyVinyl Alcohol fixative [PVA]; EcoFix preservative)
Swabs (eg, Cary Blair gel swab; Rectal swab
Stool swab; Gel swab)
Endoscopy specimen
Unpreserved stool		 Reject

Clinical Information

Acute diarrheal syndromes are usually self-limiting but may be complicated by dehydration, vomiting, and fever. Diagnostic testing and treatment may be required in some instances. Many bacterial enteric infections in the United States originate within the food supply chain. According to the CDC, in 2012 there were 19,531 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with pathogens potentially transmitted through food in the United States. The numbers of infections, by pathogen, were as follows: Salmonella species (7800), Campylobacter species (6793), Shigella species (2138), Cryptosporidium species (1234), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli non-O157 (551), Shiga toxin-producing E coli O157 (531), Vibrio species (193), Yersinia species (155), and Cyclospora cayetanensis (15). Giardia may also be transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water. There were 15,178 cases of giardiasis reported to the CDC in 2012. Since the clinical presentation may be very similar to many of these bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens, laboratory testing is required for definitive identification of the causative agent.

 

Rapid multiplex panel detection of the most common agents of bacterial, viral, and parasitic enteric infections directly from stool specimens is sensitive, specific, and provides same-day results, obviating the need for culture, antigen testing, microscopy, or individual nucleic acid amplification tests.

 

For other diagnostic tests that may be of value in evaluating patients with diarrhea the following are available:

-Parasitic Investigation of Stool Specimens Algorithm

-Laboratory Testing for Infectious Causes of Diarrhea

Reference Values

Negative (for all targets)

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

87507

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-Gastroenterology and Hepatology Test Request (T728)

-Microbiology Test Request (T244)