Posted on

COVID-19: Supply Constraints Affecting Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR Testing

Special Communication

Supply Constraints Affecting Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR Testing

Due to supply constraints related to COVID-19, supplies for Enteric Bacterial Panel by PCR (STLPCR) testing are in extremely limited supply.

While supplies are constrained, culture and antigen testing will be used in place of PCR testing to interrogate specimens for the same pathogens as STLPCR: Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC/EHEC).

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories will temporarily cancel and credit any STLPCR test requests, then substitute clinically-equivalent culture and antigen testing.

The associated CPT codes for these substitutions are:

• 87449 (x 2)
• 87045