Cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue, and shortness of breath are common symptoms of respiratory infections.
But similar symptoms can be caused by very different pathogens — from influenza viruses and RSV to adenovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis.
When clinical presentations overlap, identifying the causative pathogen can be challenging.
What if respiratory testing could look beyond a single suspected pathogen?
From Single-Pathogen Testing to Multiplex Molecular Detection
Multiplex molecular testing allows multiple respiratory pathogens to be investigated from a single respiratory specimen.
Macro & Micro-Test’s 14-Pathogen Respiratory Pathogen Nucleic Acid Detection Kit is designed for the qualitative detection of respiratory pathogen nucleic acids in human oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab samples from individuals suspected of respiratory infection.
The panel covers:
• SARS-CoV-2
• Influenza A and Influenza B
• Adenovirus
• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Human metapneumovirus
• Parainfluenza virus Types I/II/III/IV
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Influenza A H1N1 (2009) and H3N2
• Common coronaviruses 229E/OC43/NL63/HKU1
• Bordetella pertussis
• Rhinovirus/Enterovirus
By bringing a broad range of viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens into one testing panel, multiplex molecular testing can provide a broader microbiological picture from the same specimen.
Why Does Broader Detection Matter?
Respiratory symptoms alone do not always indicate whether the underlying infection is viral or bacterial.
A broader molecular panel can be particularly useful when:
The causative pathogen is uncertain.
Several pathogens have similar clinical presentations.
Both viral and bacterial pathogens need to be considered.
Instead of testing for one suspected pathogen at a time, multiplex testing allows multiple possibilities to be assessed together.
This can provide additional microbiological information at an earlier stage of the diagnostic process and help clinicians interpret the clinical picture with greater pathogen information.
From Pathogen Detection to Antibiotic Stewardship
Another important consideration is antimicrobial use.
Many respiratory infections are viral, for which antibiotics are not appropriate. At the same time, this panel also includes bacterial respiratory pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis, which may be relevant to antimicrobial treatment decisions.
For M. pneumoniae, US. CDC guidance recommends laboratory testing when infection is suspected to help ensure appropriate antibiotic therapy, while emphasizing judicious antibiotic use and avoiding antibiotics unless supported by clinical or laboratory evidence.
For influenza, timely molecular diagnosis can also help guide antiviral treatment and may reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. IDSA specifically notes that multiplex RT-PCR testing can be considered when results may influence patient care, including reducing antibiotic use.
This is where multiplex molecular testing can contribute to antibiotic stewardship:
Detect the pathogen.
Understand the likely infectious cause.
Support more informed treatment decisions.
The goal is not to replace clinical judgment, but to provide laboratory evidence that can complement clinical assessment and other diagnostic information.
Two Workflow Options for Different Laboratory Needs
The same respiratory pathogen panel supports two testing workflows.
Type I — Open PCR Workflow
The kit is compatible with commonly used real-time PCR platforms, including:
Applied Biosystems 7500
QuantStudio 5
SLAN-96P
LineGene 9600 Plus
MA-6000
Bio-Rad CFX96
Bio-Rad CFX Opus 96
This option can fit laboratories with established real-time PCR infrastructure.
Type II — Sample-to-Answer Workflow
For laboratories seeking a more integrated molecular workflow, the detection reagent can be used with the Eudemon™ AIO800 Fully Automated Molecular System.
The system integrates key molecular testing steps, including sample preparation, nucleic acid extraction, amplification, detection, and result interpretation. Sample-to-answer in approximately 70 minutes.
This workflow can help simplify hands-on procedures while maintaining broad respiratory pathogen coverage.
One Sample. A Broader Respiratory Picture.
Respiratory diagnostics are moving beyond:
“Which single pathogen should we test for?”
toward:
“Which respiratory pathogens should we consider?”
By combining multiple viral and bacterial respiratory pathogen targets in one panel, multiplex molecular testing can provide broader pathogen information from a single respiratory specimen.
For clinicians and laboratories, this broader view may support:
Differential diagnosis
More informed treatment decisions
Antibiotic stewardship
Infection prevention and control
At the same time, no respiratory panel covers every possible cause of infection. Test results should therefore be interpreted together with clinical findings and other relevant diagnostic information.
Macro & Micro-Test’s respiratory molecular solution combines 14-pathogen coverage with flexible PCR and automated sample-to-answer workflows, offering laboratories options to match different testing environments.
One sample. Multiple respiratory pathogens. Two workflow options.
Explore Macro & Micro-Test’s respiratory molecular testing portfolio.
Post time: Oct-10-2026