Respiratory Pathogen Panel

Testing site      

Alaska State Virology Laboratory (ASLV) - Fairbanks 

Fairbanks Lab Request Form

Diseases 

• Influenza 
• influenza-like illness (ILI) 
• acute respiratory distress syndrome 
• common cold 
• pneumonia 
• severe acute respiratory syndrome 

Organisms 

• influenza A H1-2009 
• influenza A H3 
• influenza B 
• respiratory syncytial virus (Groups A & B) 
• rhinovirus/enterovirus (cannot differentiate) 
• parainfluenza (types 1, 2, 3, and 4) 
• human metapneumovirus 
• adenovirus 
• undifferentiated seasonal coronavirus (HKU1, NL63, 229E, OC43) 
• SARS-CoV-2 
• Chlamydia pneumoniae 
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae 

Test Method 

Multiplex PCR (cobas® ePlex) 

Availability

• Routine testing 
• Fees apply 

Specimen type 

Preferred specimen: Nasopharyngeal swab* in 3mL Universal Transport Media (UTM) or other acceptable liquid viral transport media. 

Other respiratory specimens: nasal swabs, throat swabs, nasal aspirate, nasal wash, tracheal aspirate, tracheal wash, bronchial wash, bronchoalveolar lavage, etc.  

• Swabs: Dacron or polyester nasopharyngeal swab is required.  Recommended products include: 
  •  Fisher #  
    • 14-906-23 
    • 23-600-952 
    • 23-600-955 
  • VWR # 95041-316 
  • or comparable products 
• Metal, wood, calcium alginate or cotton material will NOT be accepted. 

Specimen collection instructions 

Supply Request Form 

• Swab: place swab into 3mL UTM and break swab below lid line 
• Wash or lavage: aseptically transfer no more than 3 mL of wash to 3mL UTM 

Please Note: The following instructions are for nasopharyngeal collections only. While nasopharyngeal swabs are preferred, other specimen types are acceptable.   

1. One NP swab is collected for PCR as described below. 
2. Remove mucus from the patient’s nose. 
3. Carefully open package containing the NP swab and remove swab for specimen collection. 
4. Tilt patient’s head back 70 degrees. Gently and slowly insert a minitip swab with a flexible shaft through the nostril parallel to the palate until resistance is encountered. The distance is equivalent to that from the nostril to the ear of the patient, indicating contact with the nasopharynx.  
5. Gently rub and roll the swab, leaving it in place for several seconds to absorb secretions. If a deviated septum or blockage creates difficulty in obtaining the specimen from one nostril, use the same swab to obtain the specimen from the other nostril.  
6. Slowly remove swab while rotating it. Specimens can be collected from both nostril, but it is not necessary if the minitip swab is saturated with fluid from the first nostril.  
7. Place swab, tip first, into the transport tube provided. Once the tip is near the bottom, break the swab handle at the swab breakpoint by bending back and forth or cut it off with sterile scissors. The swab should fit in the tube comfortably so that the cap can be screwed on tightly to prevent leakage and contamination. 
8. Clearly label the UPTM containing the swab with patient’s name (or alternate unique identifier), date of birth and collection date. Two patient identifiers are required for specimen acceptance at ASVL. 
9. Complete the Fairbanks Lab Request Form. 
10. Immediately transport specimen to the laboratory. If transport is delayed, place specimen on ice or refrigerate. 

Storage and transport  

1. Place the collected specimen in the Ziploc portion of a specimen transport bag and seal. Place the completed Fairbanks Lab Request form in outside pouch. 
2. Store the specimens in your refrigerator (2-8°C) until ready to ship. 
3. Pack samples on cool packs to preserve viral integrity. 
4. Ship as a UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.  

Ship to: Fairbanks Public Health Laboratory, ATTN: Clinical Virology   

Results  

• Target Not Detected: Nucleic acid was not detected 
• Positive: Nucleic acid was detected 

A normal result is not detected.  

Turnaround time  

Test is performed on Mondays. 

CPT code and fee

87633 

ASPHL Fee Agreement Form

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