Tuesday, Jan. 7th Office Closures & Changes
The Laurel Endoscopy Center 7350 Van Dusen Rd, Suite 230, Laurel, MD 20707 will be closed. Appointments will be rescheduled.
All appointments at Laurel Doctors' Office 7350 Van Dusen Road, Suite 410, Laurel, MD 20707 will be converted to telehealth
All appointments at Columbia Doctors' Office 5500 Knoll North Drive, Suite 460, Columbia, MD 21045 will be converted to telehealth
All appointments at Rockville Doctors' Office Shady Grove Rd. 15001 Shady Grove Road, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850 will be converted to telehealth
All appointments at Germantown Doctors' Office 20528 Boland Farm Road, Suite 201, Germantown, MD 20876 will be converted to telehealth
All appointments at Olney Doctors' Office 3415 Olandwood Court, Suite 101, Olney, MD 20832 will be converted to telehealth
All appointments at Silver Spring Doctors' Office 10801 Lockwood Drive, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20901 will be converted to telehealth
Chevy Chase Doctors' Office 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite T-90, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 will open at 9:30 a.m.
Washington, D.C. Doctors' Office 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 3010, Washington, D.C. 20006 will open at 9:30 a.m.
North Bethesda Doctors' Office 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 301, North Bethesda, MD 20852 will open at 9:30 a.m.
National Harbor Doctors’ Office 125 Potomac Passage, Suite 250, National Harbor, MD 20745 will open at 9:30 a.m.
Find a provider that meets your needs
At Capital Digestive Care, our providers offer a comprehensive range of digestive health services.
GI Pathogen Panel Stool Test
What to expect with diagnostic tests
Know someone who may benefit from this information? Share content
Diagnostic test overview
The GI pathogen panel stool test is a highly-specialized laboratory test that is capable of rapidly detecting 22 different kinds of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms responsible for causing disease in the GI tract. This test helps a physician to diagnose the cause of abdominal symptoms, most commonly diarrhea, more accurately and efficiently than traditional testing.
Who should be screened with the GI pathogen panel stool test?
Typically a doctor would order a GI Pathogen Panel for a patient who has complained of diarrhea from a few weeks to a few months, especially if they have traveled to a foreign country, reported recent use of antibiotics or ingested unusual foods. Other GI symptoms may include pain, bloating, increased flatulence, nausea and weight loss.
Identifying the correct pathogen quickly can ensure appropriate treatment and proper management of an ailment. It can also help to decrease infectious gastroenteritis which can lead to severe illness. Approved by the FDA in 2014, the GI pathogen panel rapidly tests stool specimens for common pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella, norovirus, rotavirus, parasites, and many other microorganisms.
How does the GI pathogen panel stool test compare with traditional testing?
Traditional stool testing often requires a patient to submit multiple specimens in different containers, which can be confusing and more costly. The advanced technology of the GI panel both eliminates the need for multiple stool samples and increases the number of pathogens that can be detected.
How is the GI pathogen panel stool test performed?
If your doctor has ordered a GI pathogen panel, you will be given a kit with instructions to complete the test at home. The test requires collection of a stool sample to be shipped to a laboratory for evaluation. Your kit will include everything you need to easily collect and ship your sample.