National Studies on Acute Gastrointestinal Illness (NSAGI)

Laboratory Study

The Laboratory Study focuses on local private and hospital based laboratories that tests stool specimens for enteric bacteria, parasites or viruses. The primary aims of the 2001 Canadian Laboratory Census were to:

• Quantify the proportion of stool specimens that are positive for an enteric pathogen, and

• Examine inter-laboratory variation of key factors influencing whether an etiological agent is identified as it passes through the laboratory interface and understand how such variations may affect the interpretation of surveillance data.

The information obtained through this survey will assist in determining the 'shape' of the reporting pyramid provincially and nationally. Laboratories performing tests to isolate enteric pathogens from stool specimens form crucial links in the reporting pyramid. From international research, it is known that a considerable proportion of stool specimens tested are negative for an etiological agent. Through this study, we hope to quantify this proportion and develop multiplication (correction) factors to improve the accuracy and interpretation of surveillance data.

The 2001 NSAGI Laboratory Study was sent to all public and private laboratories licensed to perform microbiological tests on stool specimens (excluding service collection centres and provincial public health laboratories).

• 2001 Canadian Laboratory Survey
  16 pages, 494 KB, in PDF format 
• Report of the 2001 Canadian Laboratory Survey
  43 pages, 712 KB, in PDF format