Gastrointestinal Profile, Stool, PCR

 

TEST Code: CTG-104

Synonyms

  • Stool NAAT
  • Stool PCR

 

Methodology

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

 

Test Description

This GI profile is a multiplexed nucleic acid test intended for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of nucleic acids from multiple bacteria, viruses and parasites directly from stool samples in Cary-Blair transport media obtained from individuals with signs and/or symptoms of gastrointestinal infection.

 

Test Items

  1. GASTROINTESTINAL VIRAL PANEL
    • Adenovirus F40/41,
    • Astrovirus,
    • Enterovirus (Pan)
    • Parechovirus
    • Sapovirus (Genogroups I, II, IV, and V)
  2. NOROVIRUS
    • Norovirus GI/GII
  3. Rotavirus A
  4. GI PARASITES
    • Entamoeba histolytica
    • Cyclospora cayetanensis
    • Cryptosporidium spp.
    • Giardia lamblia (also known as G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis)
  5. GASTROINTESTINAL BACTERIA PROFILE
    • Shigella
    • Campylobacter spp. (C. jejuni, C. coli, C. upsaliensis),
    • Salmonella spp.
    • coli O157
    • Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) stx1/stx2
  6. Clostridium difficle (Toxin A/B)
  7. Escherichia EHEC/Intimin (enterohemolytic)
  8. Shigella/Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC)
  9. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC)
  10. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)
  11. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)
  12. Plesiomonas shigelloides
  13. Aeromonas hydrophila
  14. Vibrio spp. (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae)
  15. Yersinia enterocolitica

 

Specimen Requirements

  • Stool placed in a stool culture transport vial (Para-Pak® C&S orange)
  • Add stool until level in Para-Pak® vial is at fill-line on vial label. Do notover fill.
  • Para-Pak® C&S Orange (Cary-Blair)
  • If possible, allow patient to urinate before collecting stool specimen so as to avoid contaminating the stool specimen with urine. Catch the stool specimen in a clean, empty wide-mouthed container or place plastic wrap over the opening of the toilet bowl to prevent the stool specimen from falling into the bowl. Place small amounts of the stool specimen into the orange-labeled Para-Pak® vial using the spoon affixed to the Para-Pak® vial cap, taking care not to let the volume in the vial exceed the RED fill-line indicated on the vial label. Cap the Para-Pak® vial and shake the vial 10 times to ensure complete distribution of the stool into the preservative. The stool specimen must be placed into the Para-Pak® vial within one hour of the stools production for optimum results. Label the Para-Pak® vial with the patient’s name, date of birth, date of collection and time of collection.
  • Refrigerate for storage. Room temperature storage and transport up to four days is acceptable.
  • Causes for Rejection

Specimen vial leaking

Specimen >96 hours since collection

Specimen not received in Cary-Blair preservative medium

Frozen specimen

Rectal swab

Specimen below fill line on container (underfilled)

Container overfilled above line on label

 

Limitations

The performance of this test has not been established for patients without signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Virus, bacteria and parasite nucleic acid may persist in vivo independently of organism viability. Additionally, some organisms may be carried asymptomatically. Detection of organism targets does not imply that the corresponding organisms are infectious or are the causative agents for clinical symptoms. The detection of organism nucleic acid is dependent upon proper sample collection, handling, transportation, storage and preparation. Failure to observe proper procedures in any one of these steps can lead to incorrect results. There is a risk of false-positive and false-negative results caused by improperly collected, transported or and handled specimens.

 

Expected Turnaround Time

48 hours. Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider.

 

CPT: 87507