GI Pathogens Profile

It is estimated that there are over 200 million cases of Gastrointestinal disease each year in the United States1. Acute or chronic diarrhea caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogen present in the GI tract, accounts for a significant proportion of the cases2. Many of these cases often go undiagnosed or untreated. The Pathogens Panel measures pathogenic organisms that are known to cause hospital-acquired infections (HAI) (such as C. difficile or norovirus), foodborne illnesses (such as E. coli or Salmonella), and common causes of diarrhea (such as Campylobacter, Shigella, and rotavirus A). This panel measures viral causes of gastroenteritis unavailable by other common stool tests, as well as parasites such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Entamoeba histolytica. Helicobacter pylori and its virulence factors are also included. 

This test is recommended for individuals with symptoms of: 

Step by Step Stool Collection Instructions
NOTE: Please review all instructions and collection kit components before starting your sample collection. DO NOT discontinue taking prescription medications unless directed by your physician.
Step 1 – Write the Patient Name, Date of Birth, and Collection Date on the Specimen Vial.
Step 2 – If possible, void urine prior to collecting stool to avoid mixing it with your stool sample. Put gloves on and pass stool into provided Collection Tray.
Step 3 – Using the spoon attached to the cap of the specimen vial, spoon stool from multiple areas of the sample (ie., from at least 4 areas going left to right) into the vial.
Fill vial to ABOVE THE FILL LINE indicated on the label. Don't overfill. The cap should close without spillover. Failure to add sufficient sample may result in the laboratory not being able to process the sample. DO NOT DISCARD THE PINK LIQUID IN THE SPECIMEN VIAL.
Step 4 – Carefully mix stool and fluid with the spoon (attached to the cap). Replace cap tightly and shake vial vigorously for 30 seconds.
Step 5 – A) Fill out the Test Request Form completely and place form into the document holder of the Specimen Bag.
NOTE: Be sure to write the date of sample collection on the form. Payment type must be completed and payment included to process sample.
B) Place capped Specimen Vial containing the collected stool sample into the Specimen Bag along with Absorbent Pad and seal the bag.
C) Place the Specimen Bag with the collected sample and Test Request Form into the Kit Box.
D) Ship completed Kit Box back to Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory using the FedEx Clinical Pak Mailer provided. Please make note of tracking numbers when shipping your package. See shipping instructions below.**
Stool sample must be received within 6 days of collection. If you cannot ship the specimen on the day of collection, please refrigerate and ship as soon as possible, preferably within 3 days.