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COVID-19, Influenza A/B, RSV, PCR

Only Available to EC Providers 
Wuhan, PCR, RT-PCR, Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, SARS, Novel coronavirus, Flu A, Flu B, Influenza A, Influenza B Virus, RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, URI, ILI

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1230746

Department

Microbiology

Instructions

• Due to a nationwide shortage of rapid testing reagents, this rapid PCR test will only be available to hospital patients.
• Tests positive for influenza or RSV outside of respiratory virus season (generally May through October) must be confirmed by a second method. Specimens will be sent to MDHHS for confirmation.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collection instructions For Nasopharyngeal specimens:

• Collect: Nasopharyngeal (preferred) or nasal swab in viral transport media (i.e. M4-RT, M5, UVT, UTM).
• Specimen Collections Manual: Nasopharyngeal (NP) Specimens,
• Place the swab into viral transport media and make sure that the cap is tightly sealed.
• Specimens sent through the pneumatic tube system must be double bagged and both bags must be completely sealed.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain all specimens refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Nasopharyngeal or nasal swab in viral transport media, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Intra-Hospital Transport: 
Specimens sent through the pneumatic tube system should be double bagged and completely sealed.

Rejection Criteria

• Dry swabs.
• Specimens in non-sterile or leaking containers.
• Cotton/calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden shafts
• Contaminated media (e.g. yellow in color or contain black particles

In-Lab Processing

Specimens are stable for eight (8) hours at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Specimens may also be refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F) prior to testing.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 48 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Frozen (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days (negative samples only)

Laboratory

Dearborn Microbiology Laboratory
Farmington Hills Microbiology Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Microbiology Laboratory
Lenox Main Laboratory
Livonia Main Laboratory
Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory
Taylor Microbiology Laboratory
Trenton Microbiology Laboratory
Troy Microbiology Laboratory
Wayne Microbiology Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday.
Results available within 2-3 hours.

Reference Range

Not Detected: No SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, or RSV RNA detected.

Test Methodology

Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) / Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test is for in vitro diagnostic use under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for US laboratories certified under CLIA to perform high complexity testing. This test has not been FDA cleared or approved.

Interpretation

This assay determines the presence of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a respiratory specimen. Nucleic acid amplification testing is the optimal diagnostic modality for detection of respiratory viruses.

Clinical Utility

Symptoms of a respiratory virus infections may include fever, cough, sore throat, and malaise, which is also seen in patients with COVID-19. Due to the differences in patient treatment and management, it is necessary to differentiate COVID-19 from other common respiratory infections. This assay detects and differentiates SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Clinical Disease

Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 (CoVID-19) infection are similar to those of other respiratory viruses that occur seasonally in the fall/winter and include:

Fever	Sore throat
Dry cough	Chills
Fatigue	Pneumonia
Shortness of breath

 

Epidemiology

Respiratory viruses typically follow a seasonal pattern with an increase of infections beginning in the fall and winter.

• As an emerging pathogen, the seasonal pattern of SARS-CoV-2 is currently unknown
• Most cases of influenza occur in the winter and early spring (January through April) with peak incidence in January and February.
• RSV is present yearly, showing up in the early fall and causing morbidity until late spring.

Incubation Period

SARS-CoV-2: According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), the incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 ranges from 2 – 14 days with a median incubation period of 5 days. Patients are infectious 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms and up to 10 days thereafter. Immunocompromised and critically ill patients may shed infectious virus for longer periods of time.

Influenza and RSV: The incubation period is 18-70 hours. Patients are infectious one day before the onset of symptoms and for 3-4 days thereafter. Infants and immunocompromised patients may shed infectious virus for longer periods of time.

Transmission

These viruses are very contagious and are transmitted through inhalation of virus-laden aerosols or by autoinoculation after handling fomites contaminated with nasal or throat secretions.

CPT Codes

0241U

Contacts

Last Updated

9/30/2024