GI PANEL / ENTERIC SCREEN CULTURE / CLEARANCE CULTURE (VDH REQUEST ONLY)

Laboratory: Microbial Reference

Test Description: Multi-pathogen detection panel for enteric pathogens (bacterial, parasitic, viral) and culture for applicable bacterial pathogens

For more information on the BioFire FilmArray GI Panel, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for use

Order Approval Required? Yes

Specimen Type: Stool in Cary-Blair Transport Medium

Collection Container: Cary-Blair Transport Medium

Optimal Volume: Enough stool sample should be collected to bring the Cary-Blair media level up to, but not exceeding, the fill line

Collection Guidelines:

• See Patient Instructions for Stool Collection

  • Instructions in additional languages are available on the following DCLS page: Sample Kit Collection and Shipping Stool specimens should preferably be collected before any antibiotic treatment is administered to the patient

• Antibiotic therapy should be noted on the test request form.

• Instructions for the Submission of Stool Specimens

DCLS approved submitters can request collection kits at DCLS_SSSKits@dgs.virginia.gov.

Storage Instructions:

• Store Cary-Blair stools at 2-8°C or 15-25°C unless recovery of Shigella is required, or specimens are being submitted for STEC/E. coli O157 clearance, in which case the specimen should be maintained at 2-8°C
• Specimen must be received and tested within 4 days of collection

Transportation Instructions:

• Transport: 2-8°C or 15-25°C unless recovery of Shigella is required, or specimens are being submitted for STEC/E. coli O157 clearance, in which case transport specimen at 2-8°C
• Specimen must be received and tested within 4 days of collection

Test Methodology: BioFire FilmArray GI Panel; MALDI-TOF organism identification, conventional techniques; serology for Salmonella species, Shigella species and Vibrio cholerae; PCR detection of Shiga Toxins and Shigella species/Enteroinvasive E. coli; EHEC EIA for Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli clearance cultures

Causes for Rejection:

• Broken transport media
• Incorrect transport media
• Media that has expired prior to inoculation
• Samples with no name or identifier, mismatched samples and test request forms
• Not enough or too much specimen in the Cary-Blair transport media
• True duplicate specimens (same collection date, source, and patient identifiers) may be rejected
• Specimen received out of the appropriate temperature range.