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HelpTest Code LAB4612 RESPIRATORY PANEL PCR
Infectious
Specimen Type
Nasopharyngeal swab (NP) in VTM, Red or Green top (MUST BE NP SWAB, NARES SWAB WILL BE REJECTED)
Turnaround Time
2 hours
Test Schedule
Daily
Sample Stability
Viral transport media:
Refrigerated: 3 days
Frozen: 1 year
Method
PCR
Synonyms
Respiratory Panel PCR
CPT Codes
0115U
Target Pathogens
Table 1: Targets Detected by the ePlex RP Panel
|
Target |
Classification (Genome Type) |
Seasonal Prevalence* |
Most Commonly Infected Demographic |
|
Adenovirus (A-F) |
Adenovirus (DNA) |
Late Winter to early Summer |
All ages, immunocompromised |
|
Coronavirus (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43) |
Coronavirus (RNA) |
Winter, Spring |
All ages |
|
Human Metapneumovirus |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter |
Children, elderly, immunocompromised |
|
Human Rhinovirus/ Enterovirus |
Picornavirus (RNA) |
Fall, Spring/Summer |
All ages, immunocompromised |
|
Influenza A |
Orthomyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter |
All ages |
|
Influenza A H1 |
|||
|
Influenza A H1-2009 |
|||
|
Influenza A H3 |
|||
|
Influenza B |
|||
|
Parainfluenza Virus 1 |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Fall |
All ages |
|
Parainfluenza Virus 2 |
Fall, early Winter |
||
|
Parainfluenza Virus 3 |
Spring, Summer |
||
|
Parainfluenza Virus 4 |
Fall, early Winter |
||
|
Respiratory Syncytial Virus A |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter |
Infants, children, older adults |
|
Respiratory Syncytial Virus B |
|||
|
Chlamydia pneumoniae |
Bacterium (DNA) |
No peak season |
All ages, most common in children |
|
Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
Bacterium (DNA) |
Late Summer, Fall |
Children, young adults |
*Based on northern hemisphere seasons
Limitations
This assay is not predicted to detect SARS-coronavirus (CoV), MERS-CoV, or the virus (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
If COVID-19 or Bordetella testing are additionally needed, the Mayo Clinic Respiratory Panel should be ordered: Respiratory Panel, PCR, Nasopharyngeal - Kootenai Health
Clinical Information
The ePlex® Respiratory Pathogen (RP) Panel is a multiplexed nucleic acid in vitro diagnostic test intended for use on the ePlex Instrument for the simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of multiple respiratory viral and bacterial nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) obtained from individuals exhibiting signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection.
Due to the genetic similarity between human rhinovirus/enterovirus and poliovirus, the ePlex RP Panel cannot reliably differentiate them. If a poliovirus infection is suspected, an ePlex RP human rhinovirus/enterovirus result of Detected should be confirmed using an alternate method (e.g., cell culture).
Due to the genetic similarity between human rhinovirus and enterovirus, this test cannot reliably differentiate them. An ePlex RP Panel Rhinovirus/Enterovirus positive result should be followed up using an alternate method (e.g., cell culture or sequence analysis) if differentiation between the viruses is required.
The ePlex RP Panel Influenza A subtyping reagents target the influenza A hemagglutinin gene only. The ePlex RP Panel does not detect or differentiate the influenza A neuraminidase gene
The performance of this test has not been established for immunocompromised individuals or for patients without signs and symptoms of respiratory infection.
Results from this test must be correlated with the clinical history, epidemiological data, and other data available to the clinician evaluating the patient.
A result of No Targets Detected on the ePlex RP Panel in the setting of a respiratory illness may be due to infection with pathogens that are not detected by this test or lower respiratory tract infection that is not detected by a nasopharyngeal swab sample.
The performance of this test has not been specifically evaluated for specimens collected from individuals who recently received influenza vaccine. Recent administration of a live intranasal influenza virus vaccine may cause false positive results for influenza A, H1, H3, H1-2009, and/or influenza B.
The ePlex RP Panel cannot differentiate variant viruses, such as H3N2v, from seasonal influenza A viruses. If variant virus infection is suspected, clinicians should contact their state or local health department to arrange specimen transport and request a timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.