Specimen Collection
Faeces:
Must be unformed and conform to the contours of the container. Formed faeces will not be tested.
Samples will only be tested if clear
clinical details
and
requestor details
(name, designation, contact information) are provided.
Samples submitted equal or greater than 72 hours after admission will not be tested using the Community-Acquired Gastroenteritis PCR Panel. They will be held for four days and discarded unless, after discussion with the Clinical Microbiologist, a decision is made to test the sample.
Repeat testing will not be performed within a period of 30 days.
Liver abscess aspirate
:
This will only be tested for
Entamoeba histolytica
using the FilmArray Gastrointestinal PCR panel.
Turnaround Time:
Tested daily. Turn around up to 24 hours.
Assay Method
QIAGEN QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal PCR panel.
BioFire FilmArray Gastro GI Panel - for liver abscess/aspirate only.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
Testing should generally be limited to patients with community-acquired gastroenteritis. Testing for
Clostridioides difficile
or norovirus only should be considered for hospital-onset diarrhoea.
For liver abscess aspirates only the
Entamoeba histolytica
result will be reported.
The test detects the following organisms:
Viruses
Rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, adenovirus 40/41 and sapovirus.
Please note that only enteric adenoviruses are detected by this method, non-enteric adenovirus testing e.g. post HSCT should be specifically requested as this is performed in the Virology Molecular Infectious Diseases Department.
Bacteria:
Campylobacter, Plesiomonas, Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Vibrio
spp
.,
Verotoxin producing
E.coli and Shigella /
Enteroinvasive
E. coli
(EIEC).
Parasites:
Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica and Cyclospora cayetanensis.
See also for hospital-onset diarrhoea:
C. difficile toxin
Norovirus
Contact Information
Dr Sally Roberts
, Microbiologist:
ext 22705
Cellphone
021 674 140
Dr Sharmini Muttaiyah
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 615 892
Dr Mary de Almeida
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 170 9117
Dr Matthew Blakiston
, Microbiologist: contact via Lablink
Dr Gary McAuliffe
, Clinical Microbiologist,
gmcauliffe@adhb.govt.nz
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
Specimens can be sent to the laboratory at room temperature within 24 hours of collection or if not possible, can be refrigerated, but must reach the laboratory within 72 hours of collection.