What is in the Gastrointestinal Panel?

The TRUPCR® Gastrointestinal Panel I Kit is a real-time PCR-based nucleic acid amplification test for the simultaneous detection of the most prevalent bacterial causes of infectious diarrhea. This gastrointestinal panel detects:

• Salmonella spp.

• Shigella spp.

• Campylobacter spp.

• Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC)

All targets are amplified in a single-tube multiplex format, which saves time, reduces sample handling errors, and simplifies workflow in diagnostic laboratories. The assay includes an internal amplification control, ensuring sample adequacy and ruling out PCR inhibition. The total reaction volume is only 15 µL, and setup can be performed at ambient temperature, making it highly practical for high-throughput use.

Role of the Target Pathogens in Gastrointestinal Disease

Salmonella spp. are Gram-negative bacilli transmitted via contaminated food or water. They invade intestinal mucosa and lymphoid tissues, leading to typhoid fever, gastroenteritis, and bacteremia. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), and abdominal cramps.

Shigella spp. cause shigellosis, a highly infectious diarrheal disease marked by bloody diarrhea, fever, and cramps. In some cases, Shigella infections can result in reactive arthritis, bloodstream infections, and long-term health complications.

Campylobacter spp. are among the most common bacterial causes of gastroenteritis globally. Infections usually result in bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and nausea, with symptoms typically appearing within 2–5 days of exposure.

Verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), especially O157:H7 strains, cause a spectrum of diseases from mild diarrhea to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal complication. The strains produce Verotoxins VT1 and VT2, which are the primary mediators of pathology.

Early and accurate detection of these pathogens is essential for appropriate infection control, treatment, and epidemiological surveillance.

About the TRUPCR® Gastrointestinal Panel I Kit

This gastrointestinal panel was developed with clinical practicality in mind. It is based on the TaqMan hydrolysis probe technique, which enhances both specificity and sensitivity. The kit can detect low pathogen concentrations with an LoD of 1000 CFU/mL, and its performance is extensively validated on stool specimens.

Target Channels:

• FAM, HEX, Texas Red, and Cy5 channels are used for pathogen detection

• A fifth dye channel is reserved for the internal control

The panel is particularly valuable in hospital labs, public health screening, and outbreak response, where reliable differentiation of enteric bacterial pathogens is critical.

Principle and Workflow

The TRUPCR® Gastrointestinal Panel I Kit functions as a Real-Time PCR-based amplification system, detecting conserved genomic regions in four target organisms.

How it works:

1. DNA is extracted from stool samples

2. Target-specific primers and probes amplify and detect the bacterial DNA

3. Fluorescent probes emit signals upon hybridization and cleavage

4. The amplified signal intensity correlates with the amount of target DNA

5. Internal control monitors inhibition and extraction quality

6. Ct values are interpreted using standard reference curves and clinical context

Each reaction is optimized for short runtime, ambient setup, and compatibility with real-time PCR platforms.

Clinical Application

The TRUPCR® Gastrointestinal Panel I Kit is designed for use in:

• Clinical microbiology labs to investigate acute diarrheal illness

• Hospital settings to monitor nosocomial gastroenteritis outbreaks

• Public health surveillance for foodborne pathogen screening

• Travel medicine clinics and pediatric diagnostics

Its multiplex capability makes it a cost-effective and time-saving solution compared to running multiple monoplex assays. The inclusion of an internal amplification control makes it a robust and dependable test for routine diagnostics.

This gastrointestinal panel improves diagnostic workflows, enables faster patient management, and contributes to better infection control.