Clinical Microbiology
REMINDER: Shared Health Clinical Laboratories Do Not Split Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples Received for SARS-CoV-2 Only or SARS-CoV-2/Influenza A & B/RSV Quadruplex GeneXpert® Testing for Additional Respiratory Pathogen Testing.
Background Information:
For selected patients, molecular testing for respiratory viruses beyond SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may be indicated. This testing is primarily performed by Cadham Provincial Laboratory (CPL) using their RV-16 respiratory virus panel or is a send out test ordered through CPL.
Reminder:
If RV-16 respiratory virus panel or send out testing is ordered through CPL, a separate nasopharyngeal (NP) swab and separate CPL requisition must be sent to CPL for this testing. Shared Health Clinical Laboratories are not able to split and forward NP samples to CPL or elsewhere once SARS-CoV-2 Only or SARS-CoV-2/Influenza A & B/RSV Quadruplex GeneXpert® testing has been performed.
Submitted by: Shared Health Diagnostic Services
For more info. contact: Dr. James Karlowsky, Medical Director, Clinical Microbiology, Shared Health, 204-237-2105 or email
Joelle Carlson, Technical Director, Clinical Microbiology, Shared Health 204-237-2073 or email