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 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.

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

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

-MPRP / Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae with Macrolide Resistance Reflex, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-HPCOV /Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), Molecular Detection, Varies

It is not recommended that the following tests be concomitantly ordered when this test is ordered:

-FLUNP / 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 (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae with Macrolide Resistance Reflex, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies

-HPCOV /Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), Molecular Detection, Varies

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

Supplies:

-Culture Swab - Liquid Stuarts/Single Swab (NP Swab) (T515)

-M4-RT (T605)

Collection Container/Tube: Swab. See Additional Information for acceptable swab.

Submission Container/Tube: Transport medium. See Additional Information for acceptable media.

Specimen Volume: Nasopharyngeal swab in minimum volume of 1 mL of transport media

Collection Instructions: Nasopharyngeal swab specimens should be collected according to standard technique and immediately placed into transport media and submitted for testing.

Additional Information:

If any nasopharyngeal swab or transport media not listed below is utilized, testing may be canceled.

-Acceptable nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs are Copan Rayon Swabs, Copan Nylon Flocked Swabs, Copan Polyester Swabs, Puritan Calcium Alginate Swabs, SteriFlock NP Swab

-Acceptable transport media are Remel M4, Remel M4-RT, Remel M5, Remel M6, BD Universal Viral Transport Media (VTM), Copan Universal Transport Media (UTM), PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM)

-Acceptable collection and transport system is Sigma-Virocult Viral Collection and Transport System (Swab and transport medium)