bIn this study, we evaluated the use of EntericBio real-time Gastro Panel I (Serosep, Limerick, Ireland) for routine use in a clinical microbiology laboratory for simultaneous detection of Campylobacter jejuni, coli, and lari, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp. in feces. This system differs from its predecessor (the EntericBio Panel II system, Serosep) in that it allows real-time detection of pathogens directly from feces, without pre-enrichment. It also specifically detects Campylobacter jejuni, coli, and lari rather than all Campylobacter species, as is the case with the previous system. A total of 528 samples from patients presenting with acute gastroenteritis were screened prospectively with this assay, and results were compared with those of the current method, which combines screening the samples with a molecular assay (the EntericBio Panel II assay) and retrospective culture of the specimens in which the target was detected. Discrepancy analysis was conducted using culture and molecular methods. A cute infectious gastroenteritis is common and has important economic and social consequences for both communities and health systems due to its high rate of occurrence (1). Worldwide, it is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality (2), particularly among children (3).Most clinical microbiology laboratories still use traditional, culture-based diagnostic techniques for routine detection of bacterial enteric pathogens. These are both time-consuming and laborious and, in addition, have a prolonged delay in the reporting of results. This can have a significant impact on institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes, where early detection and prevention of disease spread is crucial. Molecular detection of pathogens has, however, been shown to be faster and more sensitive than traditional culture (4, 5). It is especially important where culturebased pathogen detection is problematic or lacks sensitivity. The best example of this is the genus Campylobacter, certain members of which, such as C. jejuni, can remain viable but noncultivable (6), therefore producing false-negative results if detection is based solely on a culture. Moreover, some species which can cause gastroenteritis, such as C. upsaliensis, are unlikely to be correctly isolated and identified on common media (7). Furthermore, the exact role of some fastidious Campylobacter spp. (such as C. ureolyticus or C. concisus) in gastroenteritis is still under investigation despite their being detected in large proportions of samples from patients with gastroenteritis (8, 9).Here, we present a validation study of EntericBio real-time Gastro Panel I (Serosep, Limerick, Ireland), a commercial realtime PCR system (CE marked for in vitro use) for simultaneous detection of Campylobacter jejuni, coli, and lari, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (through detection of Stx1 and Stx2), Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp. directly from patients' feces. MATERIALS AND METHODSPatient samples. Between ...