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Test Code RP RESPIRATORY PANEL VIRAL, PCR

Important Note

Specimen Source is Required on all specimen collections

Nasal wash specimens should be sent immediately after collection to the KRMC Lab.

Methodology

Molecular Detection, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 

This test is useful for the qualitative detection of respiratory infections caused by:

 

 

Profile Information:  
Adenovirus Influenza A H3 Subtype
Coronavirus 229E Influenza B
Coronavirus HKU1 Parainfluenzavirus 1
Coronavirus NL63 Parainfluenzavirus 2
Coronavirus OC43 Parainfluenzavirus 3
Human Metapneumovirus Parainfluenzavirus 4
Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Influenza A Bordetella pertussis
Influenza A 2009 H1N1 Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Influenza A H1N1 Mycoplasma pneumoniae

 

Clinical Information

Respiratory pathogens cause acute local and systemic diseases of varying severity, with the most severe cases occurring in children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, nasal discharge, congestion, fever, wheezing, headache and myalgia. Due to the similarity of diseases caused by many viruses and bacteria., diagnosis based on clinical symptoms alone is difficult. This panel is designed for simultaneous detection and identification of multiple upper respiratory viruses and bacteria.

Specimen Requirements

 

Preferred Specimen :  Nasopharyngeal Swab in Universal Viral Transport Media

 

Tube/Container: UTM Collection Kit, (Supply order - #0075681)

 

Not Acceptable: Throat swab, calcium alginate, cotton-tipped swab or swabs with wood shafts.

 

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

 

Collection Instructions:

  1. Instruct the patient to blow thier nose.
  2. Collect specimens by rotating the minitip flocked swab gently for 5-10 seconds over mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.
  3. Remove the swab and immediately insert the swab into the transport media tube. Place the swab head at least 1/2 inch below the surface of the media, and swirl the swab in the media. Break the swab shaft and leave the swab in the tube. 
  4. Attach the cap securely.
  5. Label container with patient’s legal name, date, time of collection, and specimen type.
  6. Send specimen to the Lab promptly.

 

Alternate:  Nasal Wash or Bronchial Wash Specimens


Tube/Container: #6004913 Sterile container or Universal Viral Transport Media (#0075681)

 

Specimen Volume:  >1 mL of nasal washing material placed in Universal Viral Transport Media as soon as possible.

 

Not Acceptable: Anterior nares swab or excessively bloody specimen.

 

Collection Instructions:

  1. Ensure sufficient help to immobilize patient.
  2. Lavage selected nare with 1 mL to 3 mL of saline.
  3. Gently aspirate nare using a mucous trap with suction. Collect wash material in trap vial and place in Universal Viral Transport Media.
  4. Label vial with patient’s legal name, date, time of collection, and specimen type.
  5. Send specimen to the Lab promptly.

Bronchial Washing Specimen

  1. Label vial with patient’s legal name, date, time of collection, and specimen type.
  2. Send specimen to the Lab promptly.
  3. Specimen is collected by the provider following standard procedures.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Available Daily

Maximum Laboratory Time

4 hours

Specimen Stability

 

Specimen Type

Temperature

Time

Swab

Refrigerate

     3 days

 

Frozen (-70 C)

     30 days

 

 

 

Reference Values

Not Detected

Interpretation

A positive test result indicates that the patient is presumptively infected with the indicated virus. The test does not indicated the stage of infection. Rarely, more than 1 virus may be detected from the same patient specimen. Laboratory test results should always be considered in the context of clinical observations and epidemiologic data in making a final diagnosis. 

Performing Laboratory

Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87633