Triage of in-patients, emergency department/observation patients, and high-risk outpatients (immunocompromised or underlying cardiac/lung conditions) presenting with signs and symptoms of acute respiratory illness. Tests for 17 viral and 3 bacterial respiratory pathogens, however, does NOT detect COVID-19 (2019 Novel) Coronavirus, MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) or SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
The Respiratory panel multiplex PCR is restricted to selected inpatients at Allina facilities only.
The Allina Infectious Disease Task Force has determined that this panel is NOT appropriate for ambulatory patients unless ordered by an Allina infectious disease physician.
Ambulatory patients should have targeted testing for respiratory pathogens if indicated.
BD Universal Viral transport media (UTM)
Viral transport media (VTM), M4, M4RT or M5
Buffered saline (PBS)
Viral transport media (VTM), M4, M4RT or M5
Buffered saline (PBS)
Refrigerated (preferred) - 3 days
Ambient - 4 hours
Frozen (<-15°C) - 30 days
This assay does not detect COVID-19 (2019 Novel) Coronavirus, MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) or SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Not detected
Detected: The assay(s) for the organism were POSITIVE.
Not detected: The assay(s) for the organism were NEGATIVE.
Invalid: Failure of assay controls. Unable to determine detected (positive) or not detected (negative) for the target organism(s).
The results of this test should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other management decisions.
Organism (abbreviation) |
Classification (Genome type) |
Season of Highest Incidencea |
Most Commonly Infected Demographic |
Adenovirus (AdV) |
Adenovirus (DNA) |
Late winter to early summer |
All ages, immunocompromised |
Coronavirus (CoV) 229E,HKU1, NL63, OC43 |
Coronavirus (RNA) |
Winter, spring |
Children, adults |
Enterovirus (EV) |
Picornavirus(RNA) |
Summer, early fall |
All ages |
Human Rhinovirus (HRV) |
Picornavirus (RNA) |
Fall, spring |
All ages |
Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter, early spring |
Children |
Influenza A (Flu A) (subtypes H1, H1-2009, and H3) |
Orthomyxovirus (RNA)
|
Winter |
All ages, 5-20 % of US populationb |
Influenza B (Flu B) |
Orthomyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter |
All ages, 5-20 % of US Populationb |
Parainfluenza Virus 1 (PIV1) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Fall, periodicity of 1-2 years |
Infants, young children, immunocompromised |
Parainfluenza Virus 2 (PIV2) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Fall, periodicity of 1-2 years |
Infants, young children, immunocompromised |
Parainfluenza Virus 3 (PIV3) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Spring, summer |
Infants, young children, Immunocompromised |
Parainfluenza Virus 4 (PIV4) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Unknown |
All ages |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) |
Paramyxovirus (RNA) |
Winter, varies by location[ |
Children, older adults
|
Bordetella pertussis |
Bacterium (DNA) |
No peak season |
All ages |
Chlamydophila pneumoniae |
Bacterium (DNA) |
No peak season |
Older children, young adults, immunocompromised |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
Bacterium (DNA) |
Outbreaks most common in summer, outbreak periodicity 4 – 7 years |
Older children, young adults |
a Based on North American seasons
b During annual Influenza epidemics, 5-20% of the population is affected with upper respiratory tract infections with rapid onset of fever.