Giardia - Cryptosporidium EIA

Last Modified: 3/9/2021 11:33:59 AM


Medical Necessity Documentation: If you are requesting a Gastrointestinal Panel (GI Panel) - GIBIO do not order this test as it is a duplication of part of the panel.
Client Notes:  
Patient Preparation: Patient should refrain from the use of antacids, barium, bismuth, antidiarrheal medications, or oily laxatives for 7-10 days prior to collection. 

Patients receiving antibiotic therapy should wait at least 2-3 weeks after treatment before collecting a fecal specimen. 

If a patient has received a gallbladder dye, the specimen should be collected 3 weeks after the procedure
Specimen Requirements: Ova and Parasite Collection Kit
Collection Instructions:
Collection Instructions

Fecal specimens should be collected in a clean, dry, wide mouthed container. Contamination with urine should be avoided.

Small samples of specimen should be placed into each vial, using the spork built into the its lid. Collect from the areas that appear bloody or watery, if specimen is firm take samples from both ends and the middle. Add samples until the fluid level reaches the “fill line”. (Do not overfill the vials.) This will ensure the appropriate three to one ratio of fixative to sample.

Use the spork to mix the contents of the vial. Recap the vial, making sure the lid is securely fastened. Firmly shake the vial until contents are thoroughly mixed. (The solution should appear homogeneous.) Use the same specimen to inoculate all three vials.

If an empty vial (white vial) utilized, fill with sample as directed and recap. Do not mix or shake the contents

Fill out the patient information on the side of each vial. Reseal the vials in the plastic bag. Caution: Every sample should be treated as a potential source of infection.

If the patient is wearing a diaper, put a disposable diaper backwards (plastic side touching the skin) inside another diaper and place it on the patient. Inoculate the three collection vials immediately after the patient has a bowel movement. A U-bag can also be attached to the patient in addition to the diaper to prevent urine from contaminating the feces.

Check the box that most closely resembles the specimen just collected. 

For patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
For Spanish patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
For Burmese patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
For Arabic patient collection instruction sheet see Addendum D
Transport & Storage: Temperature/Stability: Pink & Gray Vials: 2 months Ambient or Refrigerated - Stool must be placed in the collection kit vials immediately after collection to achieve this stability.

White Vial: Refrigerate

Transport all Vials together
Rejection Criteria: Specimens in PVA fixative 2) Specimens collected from super absorbent diapers; Colonoscopy collections; Aspirates; Washings
Reference Range: No Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigens present
Critical Ranges:  
Test Comments:  
Methodology: Enzyme Immunoassay
Clinical Significance: Historically, 90% of significant O&P pathogens have been either Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium species. Giardia/Cryptosporidium EIA screening can be performed on a single specimen with a 97% sensitivity rate. EIA testing is more sensitive with only a single specimen because it tests for Giardia and Cryptosporidium antigens which are always present in an infected individual, whereas microscopic examination requires intact organisms which may be shed intermittently, often requiring multiple specimens for detection. 
Documentation:  
Custom Panel: No

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Turn Around Time: 1 to 3 days
Days Performed: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Sites Performed: Parkview Regional Medical Center
PHL Test Code: OVAP
EPIC Test Code: LAB258
Alternate Test Names: Ova and Parasite Screen
Included Tests: Cryptosporidium EIA; Giardia EIA
CPT Coding: 87328, 87329

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