Viral pathogens cause most cases of acute infectious gastroenteritis globally. Norovirus is the most common cause of epidemic diarrheal cases, accounting for over 90% of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide and approximately 50% of all viral gastroenteritis cases. In the United States, norovirus accounts for 19 to 21 million cases of viral gastroenteritis annually1. Other viral causes of viral gastroenteritis include rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus. Sapovirus infections can also cause acute gastroenteritis in outbreak situations.2
Diagnosing the underlying cause of diarrhea can play a critical role in patient management by directing appropriate therapy and providing guidance for special circumstances where there could be a risk of infection spread such as children in daycare or an outbreak among food workers. Molecular assays for testing gastrointestinal pathogens are considered more sensitive than conventional methods and frequently identify pathogens unsuspected by clinicians.3
The BD MAX™ Enteric Viral Panel is designed for detection of viral causes of infectious diarrhea symptoms targeting norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, human astrovirus, and sapovirus. Results are provided in approximately 3 hours allowing clinicians to more quickly detect potential causes of the patient’s illness.
Visit bd.com for detailed information on the BD MAX Enteric Viral Panel (Cat No. 443985).