Gastrointestinal Panel
Clinical Specimen Submission Guidance
Submit all specimens to 50 Orms St, Providence RI 02904. Open Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory 401-222-5538
Campylobacter (jejuni, coli, and upsaliensis); Clostridioides difficile (toxin A/B); Plesiomonas shigelloides; Salmonella spp.; Yersinia enterocolitica; Vibrio (parahaemolyticus, vulnificus, and cholerae); Vibrio cholerae; Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC); Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC); Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) It/st; Shiga-like toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) stx1/stx2; E. coli 0157; Shigella/Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC); Cryptosporidium; Cyclospora cayetanensis; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Adenovirus F 40/41; Astrovirus; Norovirus GI/GII; Rotavirus A; Sapovirus (I,II,IV,V)
Gastrointestinal Infection
Nested Multiplex Real-Time PCR
Gastrointestinal pathogen testing is performed using the FDA-cleared BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel (GI). The performance characteristics were verified by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories (RISHL).
Results should be used in conjunction with the patient's clinical symptoms, medical history, and other clinical/laboratory findings to determine an overall clinical diagnosis.
NOTE: A negative FilmArray GI result does not exclude the possibility of gastrointestinal infection. Detection of microbe targets does not imply that the corresponding microbes are infectious or are the causative agents for clinical symptoms.
The FilmArray GI Panel should not be used if toxigenic C. difficile infection is specifically suspected
PREAUTHORIZATION by the RIDOH Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology (401) 222-2577 is required prior to transporting specimens.
Stool: minimum volume 1 mL
Cary-Blair Transport media: Store refrigerated at 2-8°C. Test within 4 days.
GI Parasites may be shed intermittently so multiple specimens may be required for detection.
CLIA regulations require specimens be labeled with at least two patient identifiers. Examples of identifiers are first and last name, date of birth, chart/medical record number. The specimen container must be labeled to match the test requisition or the electronic order.
Rhode Island State Health Laboratories (RISHL) test requisition form https://health.ri.gov/forms/LabRequisitionForm.pdf
Primary Specimens
Write "GI Panel" under Comments/Other Test Requests
Transport as soon as possible.
Refrigerated: Transport and deliver to the laboratory within 48 hours of collection at 2-8°C in a cooler able to maintain specimen temperature. A plug-in electric cooler is recommended, however, a cooler packed with excess frozen gel packs is acceptable as long as the transport temperature is maintained at 2-8°C.
Frozen: If specimen previously frozen, it must be transported on frozen gel packs in insulated shipper.
Specimens must be packaged & transported in accordance with current shipping regulations
Not Detected for all pathogens
3 business days
Kits are available from the RISHL Center for Laboratory Support Services and may be obtained Monday-Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Kit order forms can be emailed to ridoh.centralservices@health.ri.gov
Containers specifically labeled for transport of specimens to the RISHL Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory are available in all Microbiology Laboratories and Laboratory Sendout Departments.