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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOGEN PANEL, STOOL

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB2344    Geisinger Epic ID:  56530

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Stool, fresh or preserved


Preferred collection container: 
Alternate collection container: 
Sterile specimen container
Enteric Transport Media (ETM)
Cary-Blair Medium
Specimen required: 

C&S medium filled to fill line or 5 mL liquid stool or one teaspoon stool in sterile specimen container that is then transferred to C&S transport medium within 1 hour.


Special notes: 

Check expiration date/condition of collection/transport device. Do not mail specimens.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (2-8° C)


Specimen stability: 

C&S medium: 48 hours refrigerated (2-8° C) 
Sterile specimen container: 1 hour refrigerated (2-8° C)


Rejection criteria: 

Formed stool. Specimen collected on inpatient > 72 hours after admission. Improperly labeled/identified specimen. Grossly contaminated specimen. Specimen contaminated with urine. Expired collection/transport device. Improper transport device. Delay in transport or transport at wrong temperature. Overfilled collection/transport device.



TEST DETAILS
Interpretation guide: 

Negative for all enteric bacterial targets, viruses, and genetic virulence markers. This assay detects Campylobacter group (C. coli, C. jejuni, and C. lari), Salmonella species, Shigella species (S. dysenteriae, S. boydii, S. sonnei and S. flexnerii), Vibrio group (V. cholera and V. parahaemolyticus), Yersinia enterocolitica, Norovirus GI/GII, Rotavirus A, Shiga toxin 1 gene and Shiga toxin 2 gene virulence markers. No Aeromonas or Pleisiomonas species isolated.


CPT code(s):  87506, 87046
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

This multiplexed qualitative PCR assay detects Campylobacter group (C. coli, C. jejuni, and C. lari), Salmonella species, Shigella species (S. dysenteriae, S. boydii, S. sonnei and S. flexnerii), Vibrio group (V. cholera and V. parahaemolyticus), Yersinia enterocolitica, Norovirus GI/GII, Rotavirus A, Shiga toxin 1 gene and Shiga toxin 2 gene virulence markers. Aeromonas and Pleisiomonas species by culture.


Methodology: 
Culture
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Synonyms: 

Yersinia, stool, Aeromonas, Vibrio, gastrointestinal, enteric, E. coli, STEC, Feces, EHEC, Shiga Toxin, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, PCR panel, Norovirus, Rotavirus, GIPP, Stool Culture, Pleisiomas


Clinical significance: 

Detection or isolation of listed diarrheal pathogen is generally indicative of active infection.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Donna Wolk PhD, D(ABMM)
Julie Hirschhorn, PhD, HCLD(ABB)
Review Date:  12/31/2024

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