Respiratory Pathogens Panel

A respiratory pathogens (RP) panel checks for pathogens in your respiratory tract. A pathogen is a virus, bacteria, or other organism that causes an illness. Your respiratory tract, or respiratory system, includes the parts of your body that are involved in breathing.

This includes your lungs, nose, and throat. Many types of viruses and bacteria can cause respiratory tract infections. The symptoms are often similar, but their treatments can be different.

Many respiratory infections clear up on their own with no specific treatment other than resting and drinking fluids. But for other types of infections, you may need to take medicine. For most respiratory infections, your health care provider will make a diagnosis and determine treatment based on: Your symptoms; Your medical history; The season of the year; some infections are more common during certain times of the year; Your recent travel (if any); Which respiratory infections are most common at the time; But if you have a serious illness, are hospitalized, or are at risk for complications, your provider may order a respiratory pathogens panel.

Identifying what is causing your respiratory infection can help determine the best treatment. It can also help you avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics, which are not used to treat viral infections. An RP panel only needs a single sample to test for various viruses and bacteria.

The results usually come in a few hours. This is faster than other respiratory tests, where the results can take a few days. Getting results earlier can allow you to start the right treatment more quickly.

Why this test is done

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

Symptoms of a respiratory infection include:

• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Fever

How to prepare

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

Other names for this test

RP panel, respiratory virus profile, syndromic multiplex panel, multiplex respiratory panel, multi-pathogen molecular assay