Nine Types of GI Infections Rapidly and Simultaneously Detected

A gastrointestinal (GI) panel can detect and differentiate nine types of GI infections simultaneously so that physicians can quickly identify patients who have severe, life-threatening infections.

The nine bacterial pathogens targeted in the GI panel include Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile toxin B gene; Campylobacter jejuni; Escherichia coli strain 0157; Listeria monocytogenes; Salmonella enterica; Staphylococcus aureus; Vibrio cholerae; and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The panel uses Diatherix Laboratories' (Huntsville, AL, USA) technology--target enriched multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Tem-PCR). Tem-PCR can identify multiple pathogens, detect coinfections, and determine genetic drug resistance in a single result.

"The GI infection C. difficile is becoming more of a hospital threat than [methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus] MRSA, and since hospitals are currently limited in their testing methods, this is the ideal time to introduce our new panel," said Dennis Grimaud, chairman and CEO of, Diatherix Laboratories Inc.

The GI panel is the sixth standard testing panel produced by Diatherix. Other panels include tests for infectious disease; Staphylococcus differentiation; respiratory infections; human papillomavirus typing; and respiratory viruses.

Diatherix Laboratories is an emerging leader in infectious disease diagnostics and drug resistance-detection services. Using a multiplexing platform, the company has developed a series of molecular differential diagnostic services that enable speed and accuracy for health care providers in the identification of disease-producing pathogens, leading to appropriate treatment for patients.

Related Links:
Diatherix Laboratories