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of Nebraskans through diagnostic laboratory
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Testing Results
IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

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  Test: Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel
Order in NUlirt or complete NPHL Test Order Form  
  Synonym: GI Panel, GIP, BioFire panel  
  Method: Film Array multiplexed PCR  
  Availability: Daily per shift.  Results within shift; during peak seasons or outbreaks within 24 hours.  
  Specimen: Stool  
  Collection Device: Collect in a stool container. Transfer to transport media such as Cary-Blair or Enteric Plus transport media. Fresh stool not in transport media will be added to the media prior to testing but must be received into the laboratory within 2 hours of collection. 

Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and required 2 patient identifiers and specimen source on container.  
  Volume: 1-5mL for fresh stool; 10mL stool in Cary-Blair or Enteric Plus transport media.  
  Storage/Transport:

Prior to and during shipment:  Unpreserved stool at ambient 15-25°C.  If transport delayed greater than 2 hours, preserve in enteric transport media, Para-Pak Enteric Plus, or Cary Blair equivalent. Ship transport media at ambient 15-25°C.
Shipping instructions, including specimen-handling requirements during transport:  Seal screw-top tubes with Parafilm™ or tape and place in biohazard bag with absorbent material.
Place specimen inside leak proof secondary container (biohazard bag and if transporting by air, use Tyvek™ Envelope) with adsorbent material. The secondary container must be packed inside an approved Category B shipping container.  Position NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order form between secondary container and box lid. Seal with tape.  Label outer box as UN3373 Category B, Biological Substance. Transport by NPHL ground courier. If courier not available, ship by FedEx, UPS, or USPS (1st Class, Priority or Express Mail). Follow appropriate DOT/IATA Regulation Guidelines.  For assistance, call NPHL State Training Coordinator at (402) 559-3590.
See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org/

NUlirt packing list or appropriate paperwork (completed in entirety) must accompany specimens.

 
  Unacceptable: Leaking container, multiple specimens (> 1 per inpatient stay or collected greater than 5 days after admission), acceptable. Delayed transport to lab without uses of appropriate preservative, transport other than Cary-Blair or Enteric Plus. Stool contaminated with urine. Diapers are not accepted.  
  Specimen Stability: Unpreserved stool stable at Ambient 15-25°C for 2h.   Transport media stable at room temperature for up to 4d.  
  Reference Interval: Not Detected.  
  Reportable Disease: Report positive results within 7d to local or state health department. Refer to Nebraska DHHS Title 173, Communicable Diseases.  
  Comments: Pre-approval needed from state or local health department.  Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

Targets tested in panel are listed below:
Bacteria:  Campylobacter species   (C. jejuni/C. coli/C. upsaliensis), Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella species, Vibrio species    (V. parahaemolyticus/V. vulnificus/V. cholerae), Vibrio cholerae  (Species identification), Yersinia enterocolitica, Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) lt/st,  Shiga-like producing E. coli (STEC) stx1/stx2, E. coli O157  (specific identification from STEC), Shigella/Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)

Parasite:  Cryptosporidium species, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia   (also known as G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis)

Virus:  Adenovirus F 40/41, Astrovirus, Norovirus GI/GII, Rotavirus A, Sapovirus   (Genogroups I, II, IV, and V)
This panel will replace traditional stool culture (STOCU) and Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigen screen (OVPSC) as well as individual cultures for Yersinia (YERCU) and Vibrio species (VIBCU). 
If Aeromonas species is suspected, order Culture, Aeromonas. The GIP will not test for this organism. 

Patients being tested for GI pathogens should be placed in Contact Isolation until infection is resolved or a negative lab result is received.

Supplemental Forms Required – NUlirt packing list or NPHL Test Order Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen.  
  Revised: 6/9/2021 

 

If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (866) 290-1406.

 


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