There are five genogroups of Norovirus, with GI and GII being most frequently associated with human infection. Norovirus is highly contagious and a major cause of acute gastroenteritis. It is one of the most common causes of non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Outbreaks are common particularly in health and residential care facilities and it is widely known for causing outbreaks on cruise ships. Immunity following infection is short-lived and reinfection is possible within 6 months.
Norovirus GI/GII RNA
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Norovirus GI/GII RNA
Norovirus is an RNA virus and is commonly referred to as the winter vomiting bug although infection may occur at any time of year.
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Clinical Details
Norovirus can cause moderate to severe gastroenteritis and may present with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea abdominal pain, fever, myalgia and headaches. Infection may also be asymptomatic. Transmission occurs through faecal-oral spread, from direct contact with a case, contaminated surfaces, ingesting contaminated food or from airborne droplets of vomitus for an infected individual. Norovirus can have a gradual or sudden onset. It typically develops within 24-48 hours after exposure . The illness is generally short-lived, lasting approximately 24-72 hours, it is highly contagious due to its ability to survive in the environment. Infected individuals can continue to shed the virus for up to 2-4 weeks after recovery.
Case Study
Delivering True Innovation
At Enfer Medical, we have integrated a cutting-edge and fully automated WASPLab® (Walk Away Specimen Processor) that has significantly enhanced our testing capabilities to ensure the highest of quality when processing patient samples.
Our Services
Service
Health & Wellness
General health and wellness testing can include a variety of tests, depending on the needs of the individual or recommendations of
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Service
Sexual Health
Regular STI screening facilitates early treatment and reduces the long-term consequences of infection.
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Service
Respiratory Health
Rapid early pathogen identification has important treatment and infection control implications. See our range of tests here.
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Service
Reproductive & Female Health
Hormonal analysis is hugely beneficial to identifying problems that can arise during the reproductive years.
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Sample Type &
Volume Required
Loose/liquid human faecal sample.
Enfer Medical
Tests/Assays
The test for Norovirus offered by Enfer Medical is carried out by real-time multiplexed PCR, as part of an extended gastrointestinal panel. The test is CE-IVD certified.
Panel Tests
The pathogens detected on this panel are:
| Bacteria | Viruses | Parasites |
| Campylobacter | Adenovirus F40/41 | Cryptosporidium |
| Clostridium difficile toxin A/B | Astrovirus | Cyclospora cayetanensis |
| Plesiomonas shigelloides | Rotavirus A | Entamoeba histolytica |
| Salmonella | Novovirus GI/GII | Giardia lamblia |
| Vibrio | Sapovirus (Genogroups I, II, IV and V) | |
| Yersinia enterocolitica | ||
| Escherichia coli/Shigella |
Patient
Request Form
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
24 hours
Results are available next working day.
7 Days a Week
This assay is available seven days a week.
Packaging
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
- Primary leak-proof container – tube or vial containing the sample.
- Secondary watertight container, with absorbent material, intended to protect the primary container.
- Outer container protects the secondary container.
- Patient Request forms must be placed between the secondary container and the outer shipping container.
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Storage & Stability
Samples must be tested within 4 hours of collection if stored at room temperature. Specimens must be tested within 4 days of collection if stored at 2-8°C.
Transporting
Samples
Samples
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
Acceptance/Rejection
of Samples
of Samples
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
- Samples received beyond the stability limits and/or not at the correct temperature indicated for each test.
- Incorrect sample type received.
- Leaking samples, sample not received or sample insufficient for analysis as stated below within sample requirements.
- Non-compliant samples or request forms i.e. those missing sample date information, missing sample test request and/or missing sample site/type information.
- Samples received without the necessary patient identifiers.
Clients will be provided with guidance on Sample Receipt Anomalies.
Our Services
Service
Health & Wellness
General health and wellness testing can include a variety of tests, depending on the needs of the individual or recommendations of
Find Out More
Service
Sexual Health
Regular STI screening facilitates early treatment and reduces the long-term consequences of infection.
Find Out More
Service
Respiratory Health
Rapid early pathogen identification has important treatment and infection control implications. See our range of tests here.
Find Out More
Service
Reproductive & Female Health
Hormonal analysis is hugely beneficial to identifying problems that can arise during the reproductive years.
Find Out More
Result Values:
Qualitative results will be reported for each pathogen as:
Qualitative results
- DETECTED
- NOT DETECTED
- INVALID
Please note this is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 53 of 2020) February 2020.
Please refer to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the Case Definitions for Notifiable Diseases:
Accessing
Your Results
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.