High-Throughput Enteric Panels Detect Multiple GI Bacterial Infections from Single Stool Swab Sample

Gastrointestinal (GI) infections are among the most common causes of illness worldwide, leading to over 1.7 million deaths annually and placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Conventional diagnostic methods can take days, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of complications. Now, two molecular diagnostic panels can rapidly identify major bacterial pathogens directly from stool samples, streamlining workflows and enabling faster, targeted treatment.

BD’s (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) Enteric Bacterial Panel (EBP) and Enteric Bacterial Panel plus (EBP plus) are designed for use on the company’s BD COR System which employs Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology to detect a wide range of bacterial pathogens from a single stool swab. It automates molecular lab workflows with capacity for nearly 1,650 tests, producing up to 1,000 sample results within 24 hours.

Image: EBP and EBP plus have received FDA 510(k) clearance and CE-IVDR Certification for use on the BD COR system (Photo courtesy of BD)

Featuring barcode-driven traceability, remote management, and up to seven hours of walk-away time, the platform requires less than 15 minutes to load and uses room-temperature reagents—enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing manual handling. The BD EBP identifies key enteric bacterial pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. (C. jejuni and C. coli), Shigella spp./Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

The BD EBP plus, the only high-throughput, bacterial-only molecular panel of its kind, expands this capability to detect Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) along with its heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxin genes. It also identifies Plesiomonas shigelloides, Vibrio spp. (V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae), and Yersinia enterocolitica. BD has received both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and Conformité Européenne (CE) marking in the European Union for its EBP and EBP plus on the BD COR System.

By offering flexible, targeted detection options, the new panels help clinicians diagnose GI infections faster and guide antimicrobial stewardship by reducing unnecessary antibiotic use. The addition of EBP and EBP plus complements BD’s existing molecular solutions, including the BD MAX Enteric Bacterial, Extended Enteric Bacterial, Enteric Viral, and Enteric Parasite Panels, which collectively support broad pathogen testing across hospital and reference laboratories.

“Traditional GI tests can take days, and when patients are experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting, delays can be potentially life-threatening,” said Nikos Pavlidis, Worldwide President of BD Diagnostic Solutions. “With EBP and EBP plus, clinicians can quickly identify specific pathogens from a single swab, streamlining lab workflows and enabling targeted treatment to help protect vulnerable patients.”