Every fall the same question comes back: the patient has a cough, a fever, and body aches. Is it flu, COVID-19, RSV, or something else? The symptoms overlap too much to sort out in the exam room, and the answer changes what you do next. PCR testing settles it. The remaining decision is how wide a net to cast.
The three options
| Panel | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini viral panel | Influenza A and B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 | Routine visits during respiratory season |
| Comprehensive panel | 50 targets: 28 viral, 18 bacterial, and 4 fungal, plus antibiotic resistance markers | High-risk patients, facility outbreaks, and unclear cases |
| COVID-19 only | SARS-CoV-2 | Clearance, exposure, or facility protocol |
Start with the mini panel for most patients
For an otherwise healthy patient with typical seasonal symptoms, the mini panel covers the viruses that matter most for treatment. A positive flu result supports an antiviral within the treatment window. A positive COVID-19 or RSV result guides isolation and follow-up. One swab answers all four questions.
When the comprehensive panel earns its place
A wider panel is worth ordering when a missed diagnosis carries more risk, or when the first answer was not enough.
- High-risk patients: older adults, immunocompromised patients, and those with chronic lung or heart disease.
- Negative mini panel, ongoing symptoms: the cause may be a pathogen the smaller panel does not include, such as pertussis or Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
- Suspected bacterial infection: the comprehensive panel includes bacterial targets and resistance markers, which helps you decide whether an antibiotic is warranted and which one.
- Facility outbreaks: when several residents are sick, identifying the organism guides isolation and treatment for the whole unit.
A broad panel can also detect organisms that are present without causing the illness. Read the results alongside the patient’s symptoms.
When COVID-19 only is enough
Order the single test when the question is narrow: return-to-work or return-to-facility clearance, a known exposure, or a protocol that requires COVID-19 testing specifically.
Collection and turnaround
All three use a nasopharyngeal or throat swab. We supply swabs and transport media, a TLS courier picks up, and results are reported within 48 hours of receipt through the provider portal or your EHR.
For long-term care facilities, we coordinate collection and pickup during outbreaks. Panel details are on our respiratory testing page.
To set up respiratory testing before the season peaks, call (248) 800-6626 or open a provider account.
