diff --git a/common/database_helpers.py b/common/database_helpers.py
index d9645fb9..204c78e8 100644
--- a/common/database_helpers.py
+++ b/common/database_helpers.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class IncludeFilter(QueryFilter):
     precedence = 5
 
     def __init__(self, included_filters):
-        self.included_filters = included_filters
+        self.included_filters = included_filters["include"]
 
     def apply_filter(self, query):
         query.include_related_entities = True
@@ -259,6 +259,9 @@ def __init__(self):
     def add_filter(self, filter):
         self.filters.append(filter)
 
+    def add_filters(self, filters):
+        self.filters.extend(filters)
+
     def sort_filters(self):
         """
         Sorts the filters according to the order of operations
@@ -346,11 +349,7 @@ def get_filtered_read_query_results(filter_handler, filters, query):
     :return: The results of the query as a list of dictionaries
     """
     try:
-        for query_filter in filters:
-            if len(query_filter) == 0:
-                pass
-            else:
-                filter_handler.add_filter(QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(query_filter))
+        filter_handler.add_filters(filters)
         filter_handler.apply_filters(query)
         results = query.get_all_results()
         if query.is_distinct_fields_query:
@@ -372,8 +371,8 @@ def _get_results_with_include(filters, results):
     :return: A list of nested dictionaries representing the entity results
     """
     for query_filter in filters:
-        if list(query_filter)[0].lower() == "include":
-            return [x.to_nested_dict(query_filter["include"]) for x in results]
+        if type(query_filter) is IncludeFilter:
+            return [x.to_nested_dict(query_filter.included_filters) for x in results]
 
 
 def _get_distinct_fields_as_dicts(results):
@@ -424,11 +423,7 @@ def get_filtered_row_count(table, filters):
     log.info(f" getting count for {table.__tablename__}")
     count_query = CountQuery(table)
     filter_handler = FilterOrderHandler()
-    for query_filter in filters:
-        if len(query_filter) == 0:
-            pass
-        else:
-            filter_handler.add_filter(QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(query_filter))
+    filter_handler.add_filters(filters)
     filter_handler.apply_filters(count_query)
     return count_query.get_count()
 
@@ -502,11 +497,7 @@ def get_investigations_for_user_count(user_id, filters):
     """
     count_query = UserInvestigationsCountQuery(user_id)
     filter_handler = FilterOrderHandler()
-    for query_filter in filters:
-        if len(query_filter) == 0:
-            pass
-        else:
-            filter_handler.add_filter(QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter(query_filter))
+    filter_handler.add_filters(filters)
     filter_handler.apply_filters(count_query)
     return count_query.get_count()
 
diff --git a/common/helpers.py b/common/helpers.py
index f22cd1e6..60ba6720 100644
--- a/common/helpers.py
+++ b/common/helpers.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from flask_restful import reqparse
 from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
 
+from common.database_helpers import QueryFilterFactory
 from common.exceptions import MissingRecordError, BadFilterError, AuthenticationError, BadRequestError
 from common.models.db_models import SESSION
 from common.session_manager import session_manager
@@ -109,13 +110,12 @@ def is_valid_json(string):
 
 def get_filters_from_query_string():
     """
-    Gets a list of filters from the query_strings arg,value pairs.
-    :example: /datafiles?limit=10&where={"DATASET_ID":2} -> [{"limit":10}, {"where":{"DATASET_ID":10}}]
+    Gets a list of filters from the query_strings arg,value pairs, and returns a list of QueryFilter Objects
     :return: The list of filters
     """
     log.info(" Getting filters from query string")
     filters = []
     for arg in request.args:
         for value in request.args.getlist(arg):
-            filters.append({arg: json.loads(value)})
+            filters.append(QueryFilterFactory.get_query_filter({arg: json.loads(value)}))
     return filters