Respiratory infection testing.
32 bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens from a single nasal swab — one test that sorts a bacterial chest infection from a viral one, in 24–48 hours.
- $199 flat · results in 24–48 hours
- 32 pathogens · 8 bacterial, 24 viral
- No appointment, no insurance claim
Panel
32 pathogens · 8 bacterial, 24 viral
Sample
Single nasal swab
Results
24–48 hours at the lab
Price
$199 flat
What we test
One swab. The full respiratory board.
Every target is detected and quantified with real-time PCR, so pathogens that are slow-growing or difficult to culture still show up — and a positive tells your prescriber whether antibiotics are likely to help at all.
8 bacterial targets
The atypical and typical bacteria behind community-acquired chest infections — including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis and Streptococcus pneumoniae — which are the ones antibiotics can actually treat.
24 viral targets
Influenza A and B, RSV, coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, and the other common respiratory viruses that antibiotics do not touch — so you avoid an unnecessary course.
Quantitative results
Real-time PCR measures how much of each pathogen is present, which helps your prescriber judge whether a finding is the likely cause of your symptoms or background carriage.
The science
Most coughs are viral — but the ones that are not matter most.
Acute respiratory infections are overwhelmingly caused by viruses, which is why antibiotics — which work only on bacteria — are frequently prescribed when they cannot help. Multiplex molecular panels detect bacterial and viral pathogens in the same swab and quantify each organism, letting the prescriber distinguish a treatable bacterial infection from a viral illness that needs supportive care. This is the principle behind diagnostic antibiotic stewardship: identify first, then prescribe.
Millions
of US influenza-like illness seasons see tens of millions of symptomatic illnesses annually; most respiratory infections are viral and antibiotics will not help them.
Source: CDC Influenza burden-of-illness estimates
~30%
of US antibiotic prescriptions each year are estimated to be unnecessary or suboptimally prescribed — much of it for respiratory complaints.
Source: CDC / Fleming-Kim study, BMJ 2016
10–20%
of community-acquired pneumonia cases involve Mycoplasma pneumoniae, an atypical bacterium that does not grow on routine culture media.
Source: IDSA/ATS community-acquired pneumonia guidelines
~20%
of prolonged cough illnesses lasting over 2 weeks in adults can be attributable to Bordetella pertussis — the target of routine childhood vaccination that wanes with age.
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases cohort estimates
How often does testing make sense?
Test early — within the first week of significant symptoms, when viral and bacterial loads are highest and a result can still change treatment. Re-test is rarely needed within the same illness, but a new fever or cough after recovery is a new episode worth identifying, especially in households with infants, older adults or anyone with asthma or COPD.
References
- Fleming-Dutra KE, Hersh AL, Shapiro DJ, et al. Prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions among US ambulatory care visits, 2010–2011. JAMA. 2016;315(17):1864–1873.
- Metlay JP, Waterer GW, Long AC, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-acquired pneumonia: an official clinical practice guideline of the ATS and IDSA. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2019;200(7):e45–e67.
- CDC. Disease burden of influenza — annual US burden estimates.
- CDC. Pertussis (whooping cough) — clinical overview.
From the lab
Test specifications at a glance
How each molecular panel runs at our CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory in Germantown, Maryland.
Urinary Tract Infection Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Urine
- Panel coverage
- 14 urinary tract pathogens plus 9 antibiotic resistance markers
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
Designed to detect organisms that are slow-growing or difficult to culture.
Vaginal Microbiota Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Vaginal swab
- Panel coverage
- 37 molecular pathogens associated with bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, vaginitis, and STIs
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
- Resistance genes
- Available as an option
Reports protective and disruptive flora alike — Lactobacillus species, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus, and Megasphaera — to place your microbiome in context.
STI Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for highly sensitive pathogen detection and quantification
- Preferred specimen
- Vaginal swab or urine
- Panel coverage
- 14 clinically relevant bacterial and viral pathogens
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
- Resistance genes
- Available as an option
Designed for both male and female patients. HPV types 16, 18, and 45 are reported for women over 31.
Wound Infection Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Wound swab or skin swab
- Panel coverage
- 15 molecular pathogens plus 9 antibiotic resistance markers
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
Designed to detect organisms that are slow-growing or difficult to culture.
Nail Infection Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Nail clipping or shavings
- Panel coverage
- 24 molecular pathogens across bacteria, fungi, and parasites
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
- Resistance genes
- Available as an option
Covers dermatophytes (Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton), Candida species, molds such as Aspergillus and Fusarium, plus bacteria and the scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei).
Respiratory Pathogen Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Nasal swab
- Panel coverage
- 32 molecular pathogens — 8 bacterial and 24 viral
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
- Resistance genes
- Available as an option
Covers influenza A and B, RSV A and B, four common human coronaviruses, parainfluenza 1–3, human metapneumovirus, and more.
Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel
- Method
- Quantitative real-time PCR for pathogen detection, quantification, and resistance gene identification
- Preferred specimen
- Stool swab
- Panel coverage
- 26 molecular pathogens — 13 bacterial and 13 viral and protozoal
- Turnaround
- 24 hours (typical)
- Resistance genes
- Available as an option
Includes C. difficile toxin A/B, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (stx1/stx2), Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, norovirus GI/GII, and Giardia.
Who this is for
A cough that has outlasted the common cold deserves a specific answer.
A cough that will not quit
Weeks of coughing where a bacterial cause such as Mycoplasma or pertussis is still on the table.
Fever and chest symptoms
Identify the virus or bacteria behind it and get the right treatment started.
Higher-risk households
Older relatives, young children or asthma and COPD, where knowing the pathogen changes management.
Before the antibiotic
Find out whether the infection is bacterial before a prescription is written.
Is this test right for you?
A cough, congestion or fever that has lasted more than a few days.
Symptoms severe enough that you want the specific cause.
Someone at home or work has tested positive for something.
You want to know whether antibiotics are appropriate.
A clinician asked you to get a respiratory panel.
You want results without waiting for an appointment.
If any of these sound familiar, this test was built for your situation.
Before you order
Total price
$199
One-time flat price, paid directly to the lab. No separate fee for the kit, return shipping or the healthcare provider order.
What's included
Kit to report
Collection kit and instructions, a prepaid FedEx overnight return label, the healthcare provider order, real-time PCR analysis in our lab and a secure online report.
Who orders the test
A licensed healthcare provider
A licensed healthcare provider in our network reviews your request and places the order during checkout, at no extra cost. No referral needed.
When to expect results
24–48 hours
After the lab receives your sample. Samples dropped off before 11am are processed the same day.
Questions people actually ask
Name the infection before you treat it.
Kits ship to your door, or drop your sample off at our Maryland lab. Same-day processing for samples dropped off before 11am.