Respiratory Syndromic Panel Test (BioFire FilmArray)

Respiratory Syndromic Panel Test (BioFire FilmArray)

It is a panel of test done to find the etiological agent responsible for respiratory (airway) infection in a patient. The agents causing respiratory infections are also called respiratory pathogens (which can be viruses or bacteria). This test is also called the biofire respiratory panel. Respiratory infection is infection of parts of the airway tract which is involved in breathing. It includes throat, sinuses, airway or lungs. Most of these respiratory tract infections are mild and self limiting but sometimes they may worsen and even become life threatening. This severe form of respiratory infection occurs usually in elderly people, pregnant women, people with weakened immune system and those with chronic health problems like heart, lung and kidney disease.

The symptoms of respiratory tract infection are as follows:

• Cough-dry or productive
• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Runny nose/stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Body ache
• Difficulty in breathing
• Tightness in chest

The different types of respiratory tract infection according to the part involved are as follows:

• Common cold/rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Tonsillitis
• Laryngitis
• Bronchitis
• Bronchiolitis
• Pneumonia

Why is the Respiratory Syndromic Panel test prescribed?

The health care provider may order this film array test in those patients diagnosed with respiratory tract infection to find the etiological agent responsible for the disease. This helps in providing prompt and appropriate treatment, thus preventing severe morbidity and mortality.

The advantages of Respiratory Syndromic Panel test are:

• Quick result
• High sensitivity and specificity
• Shorten hospital stay
• Reduce cost of treatment
• Reduction in unnecessary antibiotic use
• Accurate treatment

What are the components of the Respiratory Syndromic Panel test?

It uses a syndromic approach that targets the following:

• Viruses: Adenovirus, Influenza A, Influenza A/H1, Influenza A/H1-2009, Influenza A/H3,Influenza B, Corona virus 229E, Corona virus NL63, Coronavirus HKU1, Coronavirus OC43, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2(SARS-CoV-2), Parainfluenza virus1-4, Respiratory syncytial virus, Human Metapneumovirus, Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus
• Bacteria: Bordetella parapertussis, Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Procedure and prerequisites

This test uses multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology to quickly find out etiological agent of respiratory tract infection in a particular patient. It is done on a sample of nasopharyngeal swab taken in transport media . This test is more sensitive and provides prompt and optimal treatment.