Repeat Molecular Testing for Respiratory Pathogens: Diagnostic Gain or Diminishing Returns?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Upper respiratory tract infections are common, and the ability to accurately and rapidly diagnose the causative pathogen has important implications for patient management.

Methods

We evaluated the test-ordering practices for 2 commonly utilized nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for the detection of respiratory pathogens: the Xpert Flu Assay for influenza A/B (Flu assay) and the Biofire FilmArray respiratory panel assay (RP assay), which detects 20 different targets. Our study examined repeat testing; that is, testing within 7 days from an initial test.

Results

Our study found that repeat testing is common for each of the individual assays: 3.0% of all Flu assays and 10.0% of all RP assays were repeat testing. Of repeat testing, 8/293 (2.7%) of repeat

SUBMITTER: Qavi AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7454602 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature