Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP)
A Multiplex Respiratory Pathogen Panel for COVID, Flu, and RSV
Multiple Respiratory Viruses. One Swab. One Clear Answer.
Fever, cough, body aches, fatigue. COVID-19, influenza, and RSV present so similarly that clinical judgment alone cannot reliably separate them — and yet the management diverges sharply depending on which one it is. Antiviral choice, isolation guidance, and how worried to be about a frail patient all hinge on an answer that a physical exam cannot provide. Our respiratory pathogen panel detects these major respiratory viruses from a single nasal swab by PCR and returns results expeditiously.
Key Benefits:
Expedited Results: Results typically in 48 hours or less from receipt of sample
Comprehensive Test: Detects the major respiratory viruses from a single swab
Guides Antiviral Therapy: Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 have different antivirals and different treatment windows
Supports Infection Control: Accurate identification informs isolation decisions, especially in congregate and high-risk settings
Insurance Coverage: We bill insurance for your convenience
Accessible: Available to all healthcare providers, not just specialists
Understanding Respiratory Infections: A Critical Diagnostic Challenge
Distinguishing Similar Symptoms for Precise Treatment
Respiratory infections present with heavily overlapping symptoms, which makes accurate diagnosis both difficult and consequential. These viruses spread primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, with SARS-CoV-2 carrying an additional potential for aerosol transmission in poorly ventilated spaces.
The management, however, does not overlap. Influenza has a narrow antiviral treatment window that closes within roughly 48 hours of symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2 has its own antivirals with their own eligibility criteria. RSV in an infant or an elderly patient carries a different risk profile again. Guessing wrong does not just mean an ineffective prescription — it means a missed window.
Early, accurate identification guides appropriate antiviral therapy and supports timely isolation to prevent onward transmission. That matters most for high-risk patients and during peak respiratory season, when these viruses circulate simultaneously and the clinical picture is at its most ambiguous.
Common Clinical Presentations:
Fever and respiratory symptoms
Cough and shortness of breath
Body aches and fatigue
Variable severity across different populations — mild in one patient, dangerous in the next
PCR vs. Antigen and Traditional Methods
Embracing Modern Diagnostics for Superior Results
PCR Testing
- Detects the major respiratory viruses simultaneously from one swab
- Provides expedited results
- Superior sensitivity — detects low viral loads that antigen tests miss
- Requires only a single sample for comprehensive testing
- Reliably identifies early and asymptomatic infection
Rapid Antigen & Traditional Methods
- Typically tests for one pathogen at a time
- Antigen tests are fast but substantially less sensitive
- Miss low-level and early-stage infection, especially before symptom peak
- A negative antigen result frequently requires confirmatory testing anyway
- Poor performance in asymptomatic screening
Our PCR-Based Respiratory Test
Multiplexed Detection for Complete Analysis
Our multiplex PCR test detects the major respiratory viruses — SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Influenza A, Influenza B, and RSV — using multiple gene targets per virus for reliability and resilience against emerging variants. A built-in internal process control confirms the swab collected an adequate sample.
- Specimen Type: Nasal swab in viral transport medium
- Turnaround Time: Typically 48 hours or less from receipt of sample
Who Should Order the Respiratory Test
When Telling These Viruses Apart Changes What You Do Next
Primary Care. Respiratory complaints dominate the schedule from October through March. One swab resolves the likely possibilities.
Urgent Care. High volume, high ambiguity, and patients who will not return for a second visit. A speedy accurate answer is worth more than a fast answer that might be wrong.
Pediatrics. RSV is a materially different clinical proposition in an infant than influenza is. Telling them apart is not academic.
Long-Term Care and Congregate Settings. Where a single missed case becomes an outbreak, accurate identification drives isolation decisions that protect an entire population.
Employer and Occupational Health. Return-to-work decisions need a defensible result, not a rapid antigen guess.
Our PCR Testing Services
Ensuring Quality and Reliability in Every Test
At SoftCell, we offer a comprehensive suite of molecular tests, all performed using current-generation instrumentation and validated protocols. Our experienced technologists adhere to strict quality assurance measures, ensuring reliable results every time. SoftCell is a CLIA-certified, high-complexity reference laboratory, and we are powered by Doc Lab — the same team behind the science and manufacturing of our core reagents. That means tighter quality control, faster problem resolution, and technical support from the people who built the test.
Ordering Information
Effortless Access to Advanced Respiratory Diagnostics
Ordering is simple and convenient, and results are delivered the way that fits your practice — through our secure web portal, by fax, or via EMR integration. New accounts are set up fast, with kits, requisitions, and portal access included. For any questions or assistance, our dedicated client services team is here to help. Contact us at info@SoftCellLabs.com or (503) 402-2505.
Experience the SoftCell Difference
Where Innovation Meets Clinical Excellence
Trust SoftCell for your reference laboratory needs and unlock the power of precise, personalized medicine. Our advanced respiratory testing can make a significant difference in your practice — improved patient outcomes and more efficient treatment plans. Work with a lab partner that actually answers the phone.