Pneumonia Panel by PCR
Also known as: PFAP
Use
The Pneumonia Panel by PCR aids in the diagnosis of bacterial and viral pneumonia from lower respiratory tract specimens. It is specifically designed for use in individuals exhibiting clinically compatible signs and symptoms of pneumonia. The panel targets the detection of the most common bacterial and viral causes of pneumonia, facilitating timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. By employing PCR methodology, the panel provides rapid results and helps differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, which is essential for tailoring effective treatment strategies and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic usage.
Special Instructions
Specimens from the University of Utah Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, or the Salt Lake City VA Hospital will have an automatic culture ordered. For other locations, cultures should be performed at the primary care location and correlated with the results from the Pneumonia Panel by PCR. This ensures confirmation of PCR findings and allows for susceptibility testing where applicable.
Limitations
The pneumonia panel is not intended to replace traditional respiratory, blood, or urine antigen cultures. It detects only the most common pneumonia pathogens, meaning less prevalent or fungal pathogens may not be identified. The PCR results do not directly correlate with bacterial culture results as the PCR method may not report bacteria present in very low quantities due to applied algorithm thresholds. Additionally, the panel does not detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Therefore, comprehensive testing including traditional culture methods alongside the panel is recommended for a thorough analysis.
New York Approved
Methodology
PCR-based (PCR)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 92989-3
- 94379-5
- 94378-7
- 94377-9
- 94376-1
- 94375-3
- 94374-6
- 94373-8
- 94372-0
- 94371-2
- 94370-4
- 94369-6
- 94368-8
- 94367-0
- 94366-2
- 92986-9
- 92969-5
- 92964-6
- 92987-7
- 92979-4
- 92978-6
- 92956-2
- 92977-8
- 92976-0
- 92963-8
- 92957-0
- 85498-4
- 49617-4
- 73982-1
- 85827-4
- 85501-5
- 88250-6
- 96309-0
Result Turnaround Time
1 day
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Volume
1.0 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
sterile container
Collection Instructions
Transfer specimen to a sterile container. Specimens should not be centrifuged, preprocessed, treated with mucolytic or decontaminating agents, or placed into transport media before testing.
Causes for Rejection
Specimen in preservative.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Not acceptable |
| Refrigerated | 24 hours |
| Frozen | 7 days |