Gastrointestinal Pathogens Panel
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- Also Known As:
- GI Panel
- Enteric Pathogen Panel

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At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To determine whether you have an infection of your digestive tract due to disease-causing (pathogenic) bacteria, parasites, or viruses
When To Get Tested?
When you have signs and symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and/or vomiting; when you have blood or mucus in your loose stools
Sample Required?
A fresh stool sample collected in a clean container; the stool sample should not be contaminated with urine or water; once it has been collected, the stool should either be taken to the laboratory within two hours after collection or transferred into special transport vials containing preservative solutions
Test Preparation Needed?
None
What is being tested?
A variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause infections of the digestive system (gastrointestinal (GI) infections). The gastrointestinal pathogen panel simultaneously tests for the presence of multiple disease-causing (pathogenic) microbes in a stool sample.
The GI pathogen panel detects the genetic material (RNA or DNA) of some of the more common pathogens. It can identify co-infections (more than one microbe causing infection) and identify microbes that might be missed with traditional testing. Results of a GI pathogen panel may be available within a few hours, compared to a few days with some traditional testing.
GI infections are often caused by ingesting food or fluid that has been contaminated by bacteria, viruses or, more rarely, parasites. Examples of contaminated sources include raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or beef, unpasteurized milk, and untreated water from lakes, streams, and (occasionally) from community water supplies.
Microbes causing an infection are shed into (present in) the stool of infected people. Because of this, infections can spread to other people through exposure to infected stool. If people with GI infections don’t wash their hands well after using the bathroom, they can spread the infection when others come into contact with surfaces that an infected person has touched, such as door knobs or hand rails. Individuals with diarrheal illness should avoid preparing food for others whenever possible.
Some GI infections are caused by the overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridium difficile. This can cause a decrease in the normally protective “good bacteria” (normal flora) in the lower intestines. This may occur, for example, when treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to the suppression of normal flora and the growth of antibiotic-resistant C. difficile.
While a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, and parasites can cause GI infections, the list of common ones is much smaller. A healthcare practitioner may have an idea about the cause based upon a person’s recent food and drink, medical history, and/or recent travel but will not be able to positively identify the microbe without testing.
If a person’s illness is uncomplicated and goes away within a few days, the healthcare practitioner may not order testing. However, if symptoms are severe, if there is bloody diarrhea or mucus present in the stool, or if it is continuing unabated, then a GI pathogen panel may be ordered. Diarrhea can be sometimes be serious if not diagnosed and treated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diarrhea is a global killer. It is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 worldwide, killing an estimated 2,195 children a day.
Testing may be also be done if the person has been outside the U.S. and/or has eaten or drunk anything that has also made someone close to them ill. The CDC estimates that 30% to 70% of those who travel outside of the U.S. will get a GI infection.
Traditional testing has included a stool culture to identify pathogenic bacteria, an ova and parasite test (O&P) exam to identify parasites, and/or multiple other tests – such as antigen tests. These tests are useful, but some bacteria can be hard to grow successfully in culture, some parasites can be missed if present in low numbers, and testing for viruses is not routinely available. Many tests are also labor-intensive, and it may take 2-3 days or more before a healthcare practitioner has a definitive answer.
If a person has a GI infection caused by a less common bacterium, parasite, or virus not included in the GI pathogen panel, then it will not be detected. Additional tests, such as a stool culture or O&P exam, may be required to help establish a diagnosis.
How is the sample collected for testing?
A fresh stool sample is collected in a clean container. The stool sample should not be contaminated with urine or water. Once it has been collected, the stool should be taken to the laboratory within two hours after collection or should be transferred into a vial containing a preservative and taken to the lab as soon as possible.
Common Questions
Related Content
On This Site
Tests: Stool Culture, Ova and Parasite Exam, Clostridium difficile and C. diff Toxin Testing, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
Features: Laboratory Methods: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Elsewhere On The Web
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Diarrhea: Common Illness, Global Killer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers Diarrhea
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Diarrhea
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Viral Gastroenteritis
World Health Organization: Diarrhoea
FoodSafety.gov: Report a Problem with Food
KidsHealth.org: Infections (stomach and intestinal)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Parasites
View Sources
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