The Respiratory Panel is a comprehensive diagnostic panel which accurately tests for the presence of 16 different respiratory infections, including the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
No preparation is required for a respiratory panel. If you are feeling sick or noticing respiratory symptoms you can book an appointment at one of the Medical Offices of Manhattan’s locations and the respiratory panel will be ordered for you on the same day as your visit.
A respiratory panel may be performed if you are experiencing any symptoms of a respiratory infection, including cough, fever, congestion, difficulty breathing, or flu-like symptoms. These symptoms may be more serious in some people than others, but knowing the cause of your symptoms is doubly important as we attempt to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Respiratory Panel performs PCR testing on a swab sample which accurately detects five different types of coronavirus, including COVID-19.
Your doctor will obtain a sample through a simple nasal swab, similar to other PCR tests. The panel itself takes around 45 minutes and you will get your results the same day, either a fully negative test result or a positive result for one or two respiratory pathogens.
Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, any of the 16 pathogens that may be detected can usually be clinically managed by one of our doctors through relatively conservative methods. If you have severe symptoms, more aggressive intervention may be necessary.
A respiratory panel should be covered by most health insurance. Consult with your provider for the specific details of your coverage.
There is minimal risk to a respiratory panel. There may be some discomfort during the nasal swabbing itself and you may receive a result that causes fear or stress, but a proper diagnosis is key to treatment of any type of infection.
You should schedule an appointment for a respiratory panel if you are experiencing any mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of a viral or bacterial respiratory infection, including coughing, sneezing, fever, trouble breathing, or cold/flu symptoms.