Mayo Clinic Laboratories > Gastroenterology > Pediatric GI

Pediatric

Easing the journey through consolidated, patient-focused testing

From serologic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) testing to noninvasive fecal testing for Helicobacter pylori, our pediatric testing menu spans the spectrum of GI conditions. A team of Mayo Clinic’s top-ranked GI experts developed our disease-specific test menu to enable personalized answers that optimize outcomes for the youngest patients.

Our integrated approach to pediatric and adult testing enables coordinated evaluations for family members who display similar gastrointestinal presentations. Our robust genetic testing menu can identify inherited disorders and provide insights about genetic variations associated with disease presence.

25%

25% of patients with IBD present before age 201

20%

20% of all patients with ulcerative colitis are diagnosed in childhood2

15%

15% of patients with IBD presenting before age 6 may have a monogenic disorder3

Biologics management Biologics management
Biologics management

Our reflexive approach to measure biologics concentrations aligns with American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) guidelines and can help physicians make treatment decisions for pediatric IBD patients. We perform only clinically relevant testing for patients who have very low-trough drug concentrations in their serum, benefitting patients and reducing costs.

Celiac disease Celiac disease
Celiac disease

Our algorithmic approach to celiac disease testing enables definitive answers to a diagnostically challenging condition.

Helicobacter pylori Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori

Our H. pylori assay provides clinicians with a streamlined solution to the challenge of diagnosing and treating the infection in children by evaluating for both bacteria and antimicrobial resistance through one noninvasive test.

Hereditary GI conditions Hereditary GI conditions
Hereditary GI conditions

We offer targeted testing for hereditary GI conditions to help oncologists understand their patients’ risk of developing certain illnesses, including some cancers, in children with a family history of the disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease

Including first-line fecal testing for calprotectin, serologic analysis of clinically relevant antibodies, and genetic evaluation to assist in diagnosing early-onset IBD, our testing can assist in diagnosis and management.

Intestinal infections Intestinal infections
Intestinal infections

Our FilmArray gastrointestinal panel is a multiplex polymerase chain reaction test that quickly and quantitatively detects 13 types of bacteria, four parasites, and five viruses from stool.

Malabsorption disorders Malabsorption disorders
Malabsorption disorders

We use a panel-based approach to evaluate patients for disaccharidase deficiency when serological testing, imaging studies, and breath testing are negative. Because we understand the worry patients and their loved ones feel while awaiting test results, we’ve developed a comprehensive malabsorption panel that expedites and streamlines the diagnostic testing experience.

Monogenic IBD Monogenic IBD
Monogenic IBD

Our genetic IBD panel uses precision analysis to identify variants in 51 genes with established associations to inherited illnesses that resemble IBD but do not respond to standard IBD treatments.

Thiopurine management Thiopurine management
Thiopurine management

Understanding how thiopurines are metabolized is vital to choosing the most effective IBD treatment. Because some pediatric patients display disparities in thiopurine metabolization, laboratory testing is important to prevent thiopurine toxicity. Our full-spectrum thiopurine testing uses emerging technologies that provide accurate results to guide treatment decisions.

Clinically meaningful evaluations

Mayo Clinic’s commitment to meeting the needs of every patient, from the smallest to the tallest, is central to our approach to pediatric gastroenterology testing. Our expansive test offerings, combined with the utilization of emerging technologies, provide physicians with an array of clinically backed choices that enable rapid results for time-sensitive treatment decisions. Because we understand the burden of invasive specimen collection on children, we offer non- or minimally invasive testing options whenever possible.

A focus on diversity and equity in healthcare translates into testing that minimizes iatrogenic healthcare disparities in certain populations. This lowers the risk of poor outcomes related to medical mismanagement and medication-related toxicity. 

News and updates

The latest

Test panel guides diagnosis of early onset IBD: Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D.

Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' test panel provides comprehensive evaluation of patients with suspected monogenic early onset inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Accurate diagnosis is key to guiding therapy for patients, who might be as young as 2 years of age.

Learn more
Early-Onset IBD: Genetic Testing and Clinical Applications

Identification of early-onset IBD patients may enable tailored treatment and surveillance plans. With over 50 genes implicated in early-onset IBD, genetic testing should be included in the workup of children under the age of six with IBD. Join Mayo Clinic, in this “Specialty Testing” webinar, for a discussion of this testing and its clinical application.

Novel malabsorption panel speeds diagnosis

Puanani Hopson, D.O., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ malabsorption panel can provide timelier diagnosis for children with chronic diarrhea or unexplained weight loss. The novel panel, which bundles four existing tests, requires just one stool sample.

A new path forward: Hussein

For a young child diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, an unexpected turn of events led by results of a Mayo Clinic Laboratories test freed him and his family from the bonds of frequent medical visits and expensive treatment, and opened the door to a life unencumbered by illness.

TPNUQ genotyping assay

Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., discusses TPNUQ, Mayo Clinic Laboratories' genotyping test for identifying patients at risk for thiopurine toxicity. Used prior to therapy initiation, our assay evaluates for nuances in both TPMT and NUDT15, which have associations to thiopurine metabolization.

Disaccharidase Activity Panel [Test in Focus]

Pua Hopson, D.O., discusses Mayo Clinic Labs’ new disaccharidase activity panel, which measures levels of five digestive enzymes to identify deficiencies that cause carbohydrate maldigestion and can lead to chronic conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Performed on tissue sample biopsies during upper endoscopy, the activity panel is the gold standard test for detecting disaccharidase deficiencies.

Helicobacter pylori testing: 2021 update

In this month’s Hot Topic, Robin Patel, M.D., discusses Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ new PCR assay for detection of Helicobacter pylori detection and determination of clarithromycin resistance directly from stool.

References
  1. Baldassano RN, Piccoli DA. Inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric and adolescent patients. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1999;28(2):445–458.
  2. Siow VS, Bhatt R, Mollen KP. Management of acute severe ulcerative colitis in children. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2017 Dec;26(6):367-372.
  3. Sudabeh A, et al. The global, regional and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systemic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2017. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5(1):17-30.
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