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Test Code RPB Respiratory Panel, PCR, Varies


Ordering Guidance


This assay is not predicted to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-coronavirus.

 

This test is appropriate for bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washings only. For nasopharyngeal swab specimens order RP / Respiratory Panel, PCR, Nasopharyngeal.

 

This test is not intended for otherwise healthy, immunocompetent patients who are likely to have a mild, self-limited respiratory infection. If testing is desired, these patients should be tested using the more targeted diagnostic assays based on their exposure history and clinical presentation. These tests are also not recommended to be concomitantly ordered when this test is ordered.

-HPFLU / Influenza Virus Type A and Type B, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Molecular Detection, PCR, Nasopharyngeal Swab

-LADV / Adenovirus, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-LENT / Enterovirus, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-BPRPV / Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-MPRP / Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-COVID / Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA Detection, PCR, Varies



Shipping Instructions


Specimens that cannot be shipped refrigerated to Mayo Clinic Laboratories within 3 days (72 hours) should be frozen prior to shipment. Specimens received older than 72 hours (refrigerated) or older than 30 days (frozen) will be canceled.



Specimen Required


Specimen Type: Respiratory fluid

Sources: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or bronchial washing

Collection Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 1 mL


Useful For

Rapid detection of respiratory infections caused by the following:

-Adenovirus

-Coronavirus (serotypes HKU1, NL63, 229E, OC43)

-SARS-CoV-2

-Human metapneumovirus

-Human rhinovirus/enterovirus

-Influenza A (H1, H1-2009, H3)

-Influenza B

-Parainfluenza virus (serotypes 1-4)

-Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

-Bordetella pertussis

-Bordetella parapertussis

-Chlamydia pneumoniae

-Mycoplasma pneumoniae

 

This test is not recommended as a test of cure.

Method Name

Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Reporting Name

Respiratory Panel, PCR, V

Specimen Type

Varies

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Varies Refrigerated (preferred) 72 hours
  Frozen  30 days
  Ambient  4 hours

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

Respiratory infections are common and generally cause self-limited illnesses in healthy, immunocompetent hosts. Viruses account for a significant percentage of respiratory diseases, but bacteria can be associated with respiratory infections. Although respiratory illnesses are frequently mild, viruses may cause significant morbidity and mortality in individuals who are immunocompromised (eg, transplant recipients, patients with underlying malignancies).

 

Influenza viruses (types A and B) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are 2 common causes of viral respiratory illness, with peak incidence in the winter and spring months in the Northern hemisphere. Both viruses can cause a clinically indistinguishable syndrome characterized by fever, cough, headache, and general malaise. RSV is a leading cause of respiratory illness in young children. Early diagnosis of influenza and RSV is important so necessary infection control precautions can be taken if the patient is hospitalized, and antiviral therapy can be considered if the patient is hospitalized or considered at high-risk for severe disease.(1) Human metapneumovirus is also a cause of respiratory illness in both children and adults.

 

Human rhinovirus and coronavirus serotypes HKU1, NL63, 229E, and OC43 are the causative agents of the common cold, with symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, and malaise. Infections with rhinovirus and coronaviruses are extremely common due to the large number of serotypes of these viruses. Most infections are mild and self-limiting; however, individuals who are immunocompromised may suffer more severe illnesses, including lower respiratory tract disease.

 

SARS-CoV-2 virus is an RNA virus that causes COVID-19. Like other coronaviruses that infect humans, SARS-CoV-2 can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract illness. Symptoms can range from mild (eg, the common cold) to severe (eg, pneumonia) in both healthy individuals and patients who are immunocompromised. SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs primarily via respiratory droplets. During the early stages of COVID-19 disease, the symptoms may be nonspecific and resemble other common respiratory infections, such as influenza.

 

Parainfluenza viruses and adenovirus are also common causes of viral infection, especially in young children. Parainfluenza viruses are most common during the spring, summer, and fall months, with symptoms including fever, runny nose, and cough. However, parainfluenza viruses may also cause more severe lower respiratory disease, such as croup or pneumonia. Adenoviruses may infect a range of organ systems, with sequelae ranging from cold-like symptoms (sore throat) to pneumonia, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or diarrhea. Similar to the viruses described above, parainfluenza viruses and adenoviruses generally cause mild, self-limited infections but may cause severe disease in patients who are immunosuppressed.

 

Respiratory infections may also be caused by bacterial pathogens, including Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. B pertussis is the causative agent of pertussis, or whooping cough, a disease characterized by prolonged cough that may be associated with an inspiratory whoop and post-tussive vomiting. B parapertussis causes a similar, but generally less severe, illness. M pneumoniae is a cause of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, and pneumonia. C pneumoniae is a rare cause of pneumonia.

Reference Values

Undetected (for all targets)

Interpretation

Results are intended to aid in the diagnosis of illness and are meant to be used in conjunction with other clinical and epidemiological findings.

 

A negative result should not rule out infection in patients with a high pretest probability for a respiratory infection. The assay does not test for all potential infectious agents of respiratory disease. Specimens collected too early or too late in the clinical course may not yield the organism causing disease. Negative results should be considered in the context of a patient's clinical course and treatment history, if applicable.

 

Positive results do not distinguish between a viable or replicating organism and the presence of a nonviable organism or nucleic acid, nor do they exclude the potential for coinfection by organisms not included in the panel. Nucleic acid may persist in some patients for days to weeks, even following appropriate therapy. Detection of 1 or more organisms included in this test suggests that the virus or bacteria is present in the clinical sample; however, the test does not distinguish between organisms that are causing disease and those that are present but not associated with a clinical illness. Coinfections (eg, detection of multiple viruses or bacteria or viruses and bacteria) may be observed with this test. In these situations, the clinical history and presentation should be reviewed thoroughly to determine the clinical significance of multiple pathogens in the same specimen.

Cautions

Test results should be used as an aid in diagnosis. The single assay should not be used as the only criteria to form a clinical conclusion, but results should be correlated with patient symptoms and clinical presentation. A negative result does not negate the presence of the organism or active disease.

 

The detection of microbial DNA or RNA is dependent upon proper specimen collection, handling, transportation, storage, and preparation. There is a risk of false-negative results due to the presence of strains with sequence variability or genetic rearrangements in the target regions of the assays or levels of organism at or below the limit of detection of the test.

 

Positive results do not rule out coinfection with other pathogens.

 

Negative results combined with respiratory illness may be due to pathogens not detected by this panel.

Repeat testing should not be performed on specimens collected less than 7 days apart.

 

For SARS-CoV-2 results from this assay, if repeat testing is considered within a 7-day period after an initial negative SARS-CoV-2 result, consider ordering a targeted SARS-CoV-2 assay. If initial SARS-CoV-2 results from this assay were positive, it is recommended to wait 14 days until a subsequent test is performed, if desired.

 

Adenovirus:

Assay may show variable detection with non-respiratory serotypes within species A, D, F, and G.

 

Influenza A:

Performance characteristics were established when influenza A H1-2009, A H1, and A H3 were the predominant influenza A viruses in circulation. Performance of detecting influenza A may vary if other influenza A strains are circulating, or a novel influenza A virus emerges. The performance of the FilmArray respiratory panel has not been established in individuals who received influenza vaccine. Recent administration of a nasal influenza vaccine may cause false-positive results for influenza A or influenza B. Some strains of human, swine, or avian origin are predicted to react with influenza A assays leading to an influenza A (no subtype detected) result.

 

Assay detects and differentiates commonly occurring influenza A hemagglutinin subtypes based on only the hemagglutinin gene, using 2 influenza A assays and 3 subtyping assays for the hemagglutinin gene.

Results are reported as "detected" when at least one of the influenza A assays and one of the subtyping assays are both positive. If both influenza A assays are positive without a hemagglutinin subtype, results are reported as influenza A (no subtype detected).

Equivocal results are reported following repeat testing in 2 scenarios:

-Neither of the influenza A assays are positive, but a hemagglutinin gene is positive

-One of the influenza A assays is positive, and hemagglutinin genes are negative.

The assay does not detect or differentiate the influenza A neuraminidase gene.

 

Rhinovirus/Enterovirus Group:

Due to the genetic similarity of these viruses, the assay is unable to reliably differentiate them.

 

Bordetella pertussis/Bordetella parapertussis:

Some acellular vaccines contain polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-detectable DNA. Contamination of specimens with vaccine can cause false-positive Bordetella pertussis PCR results. Specimens should not be collected or processed in areas that are exposed to B pertussis vaccine material. Assay targets the single-copy promoter region of the pertussis toxin gene. Results of this assay may not be concordant with commonly used Bordetella PCR assays, which target the multicopy insertions sequences (IS481). Cross reactivity could occur with high levels or rare sequence variants of other species, such as Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella parapertussis.

 

Coronavirus:

Coronavirus OC43 assay may cross-react with coronavirus HKU1. As a result, when both HKU1 and OC43 are detected in the same patient specimen, the result may be due to assay cross-reactivity. A coinfection with these 2 viruses is also possible.

 

SARS-CoV-2:

The following animal coronavirus strains, unlikely to be found in humans, may cross react with the SARS-CoV-2 target: Bat coronavirus RaTG13 (accession: MN996532), Pangolin coronavirus (accession: MT084071), and bat SARS-like coronavirus sequences (accessions: MG772933 and MG772934).

Method Description

The BioFire FilmArray Respiratory Panel is a closed system that performs all the chemistry required to isolate, amplify, and detect nucleic acid from multiple viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens within a single nasopharyngeal swab specimen. The panel contains reagents in freeze-dried form and is divided into discrete segments where the required chemical processes are carried out. Patient sample and hydration fluid are drawn by vacuum into the panel and then placed into the FilmArray instrument. The detection process operations are automated (nucleic acid purification, first stage polymerase chain reaction [PCR], second stage PCR, and melt analysis) and complete in about 45 minutes in this closed system.

 

Nucleic Acid Purification: The sample is lysed by a combination of chemical and mechanical mechanisms, and the liberated nucleic acid is captured, washed, and eluted using magnetic bead technology.

 

First-Stage PCR: A reverse transcription step is performed to convert viral RNA into complementary DNA prior to amplification. The purified nucleic acid solution is combined with a preheated master mix to initiate the reverse transcription step and subsequent thermocycling for multiplex PCR.

 

Second-Stage PCR: Products of first stage PCR are diluted and mixed with fresh PCR reagents, which is distributed over the second stage PCR array. The individual wells of the array contain primers for different assays (in triplicate) that target specific nucleic acid sequences from each of the pathogens detected, as well as control template material.

 

DNA Melting Analysis: Temperature is slowly increased, and fluorescence in each well of the array is monitored and analyzed to generate a melt curve.

 

Analysis of Melt Curves: The software evaluates the DNA melt curve for each well to determine if a PCR product was present in that well. If the melt profile indicates the presence of a PCR product, then the analysis software calculates the melting temperature of the curve, which is then compared against the expected range for the assay. When the software determines that the melt curve falls inside the assay-specific melt temp range, it is called positive. When it determines that the melt curve is not in the appropriate range, it is called negative.

 

Analysis of Replicates: Melt curves of each of the 3 replicates for each assay are evaluated to determine the assay result. For an assay to be called positive, at least 2 of the 3 associated melt curves must be called positive, and the melting temperature for at least 2 of the 3 positive melt curves must be similar (within 1 degree C). Assays that do not meet these criteria are called negative.(Instruction manual: FilmArray Respiratory Panel 2.1. BioFire Diagnostics, LLC; BFR0000-8579-01, 03/2021)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

1 to 2 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been modified from the manufacturer's instructions. Its performance characteristics were determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

0202U

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
RPB Respiratory Panel, PCR, V 92958-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
SSRPB Specimen Source 31208-2
610529 Adenovirus 92987-7
610530 Coronavirus 229E 94479-3
610531 Coronavirus HKU1 94480-1
610532 Coronavirus NL63 94481-9
610533 Coronavirus OC43 94482-7
610534 SARS Coronavirus-2 95608-6
610535 Human Metapneumovirus 92978-6
610536 Human Rhinovirus/ Enterovirus 92956-2
610537 Influenza A 92977-8
610538 Influenza B 92976-0
610539 Parainfluenza Virus 1 94483-5
610540 Parainfluenza Virus 2 94484-3
610541 Parainfluenza Virus 3 94485-0
610542 Parainfluenza Virus 4 94486-8
610543 Respiratory Syncytial Virus 92957-0
610544 Bordetella pertussis 94478-5
610545 Bordetella parapertussis In Process
610546 Chlamydia pneumoniae 92986-9
610547 Mycoplasma pneumoniae 92964-6
610548 Interpretation 59464-8

Reflex Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
RPMPM M. pneumoniae Macrolide Resist PCR Yes No