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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/respiratory-pathogens-panel/

Respiratory Pathogens Panel

What is a respiratory pathogens (RP) panel?

A respiratory pathogens (RP) panel checks for pathogens in the respiratory tract. A pathogen is a virus, bacteria, or other organism that causes an illness. Your respiratory tract is made up of parts of the body involved in breathing. This includes your lungs, nose, and throat.

There are many types of viruses and bacteria that can infect the respiratory tract. Symptoms are often similar, but treatment can be very different. So it's important to make the right diagnosis. Other viral and bacterial tests for respiratory infections are often limited to testing for one specific pathogen. Several samples may be needed. The process can be difficult and time consuming.

An RP panel only needs a single sample to run tests for a wide variety of viruses and bacteria. Results usually come in a few hours. Results from other types of respiratory tests can take a few days. Faster results may allow you to get started earlier on the right treatment.

Other names: RP panel, respiratory virus profile, syndromic multiplex panel

What is it used for?

A respiratory pathogens panel is used to help diagnose:

Viral infections, such as:

Bacterial infections, such as:

Why do I need a respiratory pathogens panel?

You may need this test if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection and are at risk for complications. Most respiratory infections cause mild to moderate symptoms. But the infections can be serious or even life threatening to young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms of a respiratory infection include:

What happens during a respiratory pathogens panel?

There are two ways a provider may take a sample for testing:

Nasopharyngeal swab:

  • You will tip your head back.
  • Your health care provider will insert a swab into your nostril until it reaches the upper part of your throat.
  • Your provider will rotate the swab and remove it.

Nasal aspirate:

  • Your provider will inject a saline solution into your nose, then remove the sample with gentle suction.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

You don't need any special preparations for a respiratory pathogens panel.

Are there any risks to the test?

The swab test may tickle your throat or cause you to cough. The nasal aspirate may be uncomfortable. These effects are temporary.

What do the results mean?

A negative result may mean your symptoms were caused by a pathogen not included in the panel of tests. It may also mean you have a condition not caused by a virus or bacteria.

A positive result means a specific pathogen was found. It tells you which type of infection you have. If more than one part of the panel was positive, it means you may be infected with more than one pathogen. This is known as a co-infection.

Based on your results, your provider will recommend treatment and/or order more tests. These may include a bacteria culture, viral blood tests, and a Gram stain. The tests may help confirm your diagnosis and guide treatment.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.

References

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  2. ClinLab Navigator [Internet]. ClinLab Navigator; c2020. Impact of FilmArray Respiratory Panel on Patient Outcomes; [cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/impact-of-filmarray-respiratory-panel-on-patient-outcomes.html
  3. Das S, Dunbar S, Tang YW. Laboratory Diagnosis of Respiratory Tract Infections in Children – the State of the Art. Front Microbiol [Internet]. 2018 Oct 18 [cited 2020 Apr 18]; 9:2478. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6200861
  4. FDA: US Food and Drug Administration [Internet]. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: ePlex® Respiratory Pathogen Panel 2; 2020 Oct 7 [cited 2021 Aug 24]; [about 5 screens]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/142903/download
  5. Greenberg SB. Rhinovirus and coronavirus infections. Semin Respir Crit Care Med [Internet]. 2007 Apr [cited 2020 Apr 18]; 28(2):182–92. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17458772
  6. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2020. Pathogen; [updated 2017 Jul 10; cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/glossary/pathogen
  7. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2020. Respiratory Pathogens Panel; [updated 2018 Feb 18; cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/respiratory-pathogens-panel
  8. Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2020. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Testing; [updated 2018 Feb 18; cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-testing
  9. Marshall NC, Kariyawasam RM, Zelyas N, Kanji JN, Diggle MA. Broad respiratory testing to identify SARS-CoV-2 viral co-circulation and inform diagnostic stewardship in the COVID-19 pandemic. Virol J [Internet]. 2021 May 1 [cited 2021 Aug 24];18(1):93. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8087885
  10. Mayo Clinic Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2020. Test ID: RESLR: Respiratory Pathogens Panel, PCR, Varies: Clinical and Interpretive; [cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/606760
  11. National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: respiratory tract; [cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/respiratory-tract
  12. Quest Diagnostics [Internet]. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; c2000–2019. SARS-CoV-2 RNA (COVID-19) and Respiratory Pathogen Panel, Qualitative NAAT; [cited 2021 Aug 24]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/31687/sars-cov-2-rna-covid-19-and-respiratory-pathogen-panel-qualitative-naat?q=31687&cc=MASTER
  13. UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2020. Nasopharyngeal culture: Overview; [updated 2020 Apr 18; cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://ufhealth.org/nasopharyngeal-culture
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  15. University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2020. Health Encyclopedia: Rapid Influenza Antigen (Nasal or Throat Swab); [cited 2020 Apr 18]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=rapid_influenza_antigen
  16. UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2021. Healthwise Knowledgebase: Respiratory Problems, Age 12 and Older; [cited 2021 Aug 25]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://patient.uwhealth.org/healthwise/article/rsp11

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.