Beginning November 16, 2021, COVID-19 testing will also include testing for influenza A and B, except for point of care testing in the Day of Surgery Area and certain outpatient clinics.  Orders will remain the same, with the addition of the word “panel” in the name to indicate that tests in addition to COVID-19 will be performed.  Because there are many variants of respiratory virus testing, please see the Epic instructions for individual tests for an explanation of what is tested for with each Epic orderable.

Currently, influenza activity is rare.  A respiratory viral dashboard is available on the Micro Guide app or in a browser (https://viewer.microguide.global/IOWA/ADULT#content,549d7505-5bf5-4467-9d67-5d7fc3e7630e) which may help providers select respiratory viral testing according to current prevalence.  The dashboard is updated weekly.

Quick facts about this testing:

1. The charge for this test will not change over COVID-only testing.
2. Supply of swabs and media, as well as turnaround times, will not change.
3. Deep samples are still recommended if patients have had symptoms for a week or more.  Deep samples now include BAL, sputum, and tracheal aspirate as a new source.  If a deep sample is submitted only COVID testing will be reported, not influenza.
4. The only acceptable source for influenza testing is NP swab.
5. OP swabs remain an option for COVID-19-only testing.
6. Per longstanding policy, positive respiratory viral results are called back to inpatient units, but are not called back for samples collected in outpatient locations or the ED.

If you have questions specifically related to this change, please contact Bradley Ford, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology; (ext. 6-2990, bradley-ford@uiowa.edu; *8290).