GI PANEL PCR (Qualitative)

​To assist in identifying the etiologic agent(s) of infectious gastroenteritis, by simultaneous detection of 22 common gastrointestinal pathogens including viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Pathogens covered by this assay include:

• Bacteria
  o   Campylobacter sp. (eg. C.jejuni, C.coli and C.upsaliensis)
  o   Clostridium difficile (toxin A/B)
  o   Plesiomonas shigelloides
  o   Salmonella sp. 
  o   Yersinia enterocolitica
  o   Vibrio sp. (eg. V.parahaemolyticus, V.vulnificus and V.cholerae)
  o   Vibrio cholerae
  o   Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)
  o   Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC)
  o   Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) lt/st
  o   Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) stx1/stx2
  o   Escherichia coli O157
  o   Shigella sp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC)
• Viruses
  o   Adenovirus F 40/41
  o   Astrovirus
  o   Norovirus GI/GII
  o   Rotavirus A
  o   Sapovirus (I, II, IV and V)
• Parasites
  o   Cryptosporidium sp.
  o   Cyclospora cayetanensis
  o   Entamoeba histolytica
  o   Giardia lamblia

Please note that other than for the protozoan parasites listed above, this assay does not detect other enteric parasites, e.g. helminthic ova/larvae, microsporidia, etc. For patients with strongly suspected Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoeal disease (CDAD), currently available stand-alone C.difficile PCR is the preferred test as it is more cost-effective.

​1 mL of fresh stool sample or stool sample in Cary Blair medium. Please note that sample types other than stool samples have not been validated on this new assay and will generally be rejected.

​Refrigerate sample at 2-8°C until transfer to laboratory. Do not freeze. Send sample at 2 - 8°C. Sample should reach the laboratory as soon as possible preferably within 24 hours after collection.

​Multiplex real-time PCR

​Detected, Not detected or Inconclusive

​Next working day

​Mondays to Saturdays (except public holidays)

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Performance Characteristics: