title: Utility of two novel multiplexing assays for the detection of gastrointestinal pathogens - a first experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cause for gastroenteritis range from viral, bacterial to parasitic pathogens. Rapid Multiplexing techniques like ProGastro_SSCS and xTAG_GPP can detect broad panels of pathogens simultaneously. We performed a field test with a total number of 347 stool samples from adult hospitalized patients that were tested with the Luminex xTAG GPP assay; of the 157 samples positively tested for at least one pathogen by xTAG GPP a total number of 30 samples was retested with the ProGastro SSCS assay. Assays were compared to standard routine diagnostics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiplexing significantly reduced the time to the initial identification of a pathogen. Moreover, multiplexing detected pathogens for which a diagnostic assays was not requested by the physician and thus may be an important tool for avoiding nosocomial outbreaks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first frontline approach with these assays approves their utility compared to conventional microbiological methods.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Klinikum der Privaten Universität Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Str. 200, Cologne, Köln D-51109 Germany.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kahlau
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malecki
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schildgen
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Winterfeld
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messler
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mattner
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schildgen
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