Bring on xTAG® GPP (Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel): Your Patients Will Thank You

Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) is a multiplexed nucleic acid test intended for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of multiple viral, parasitic, and bacterial nucleic acids in human stool specimens from individuals with signs and symptoms of infectious colitis or gastroenteritis. The following pathogen types, subtypes, and toxin genes are identified using the xTAG GPP:

• Campylobacter (C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari only)
• Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) toxin A/B
• Cryptosporidium (C. parvum and C. hominis only)
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157
• Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) LT/ST
• Giardia (G. lamblia only, also known as G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis)
• Norovirus GI/GII
• Rotavirus A
• Salmonella
• Shiga-like Toxin producing E. coli (STEC) stx 1/stx 2
• Shigella (S. boydii, S. sonnei, S. flexneri and S. dysenteriae)

Not only would rapid identification of the causal agent in symptomatic (both acute and chronic gastroenteritis) patients aid in diagnosis and patient management, but physicians will be just as interested in a rapid, reliable negative result which will alleviate the need to order tests multiple times (saving in patient care costs as well as lab costs). A quick and reliable negative result will also shorten the time of isolation for patients resulting in reduced hospital costs. xTAG® GPP provides a reliable negative result in five hours for all of the major causes of acute gastroenteritis!

Not only will the physician receive a timely result, but the ordering process will be simplified for the physician as they will only need to order one test rather than multiple tests. They will also receive all of the results at one time instead of over the course of several days, making it easier to have an informed and timely decision on treatment.

The patient will appreciate being given the appropriate treatment in a timely fashion without the need for costly procedures that are unnecessary, or repeat testing.

Reference

https://www.luminexcorp.com/blog/2013/02/12/bring-on-xtag-gpp-gastrointestinal-pathogen-panel-your-patients-and-physicians-will-thank-you/