Should You Schedule Upper Respiratory Molecular PCR Testing?

It can seem at times these days that COVID-19 is the only respiratory disease in existence. While the SARS-Cov-2 virus responsible for causing COVID-19 certainly still has everyone’s attention, it is far from the only bug out there capable of causing a nasty respiratory illness. In other words, if you are experiencing respiratory symptoms and test negative for COVID-19, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re out of the woods; it is still important to identify the cause of your symptoms so that proper treatment can be provided. To that end, upper respiratory molecular PCR testing remains a vital healthcare service. In this article, we’ll take a look at the various respiratory diseases that upper respiratory molecular PCR testing is able to detect before discussing how you can decide if you should schedule upper respiratory molecular PCR testing with St. Jude Labs.

Common Upper Respiratory Diseases

At St. Jude Labs, the respiratory panel of our molecular PCR testing is designed to detect fungal targets, bacterial targets, and viral targets. Common upper respiratory diseases that fall into these three categories include:

Viral Diseases

• COVID-19: Not much needs to be said regarding this disease and its symptoms; unless you’ve been completely off the grid for the past two years, chances are that you’re already highly familiar with all things COVID. Our upper respiratory molecular PCR testing is able to detect all variants of COVID-19, including coronavirus HKU1, coronavirus NL63, coronavirus 229E, and coronavirus OC43.
• Rhinovirus: Otherwise known as “the common cold”, rhinovirus is by far the most common viral infectious agent in humans. Fortunately, it’s also one of the least serious. By targeting rhinovirus, our PCR testing is able to provide patients infected with the common cold peace of mind that their illness will clear up on its own in a matter of days.
• Influenza: While many might group influenza (also known as “the flu”) in the same category as the common cold in terms of seriousness, the reality is that influenza has the potential to be far more harmful if left untreated. This makes it an important virus to test for in our respiratory panel.

Bacterial Diseases

• Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that causes air sacs in one or both lungs to become inflamed, leading to coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, and chills. Our PCR testing is able to detect all bacterial targets responsible for causing pneumonia, including Mycoplasma pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• Staph Infection: Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that lives on people’s skin. While it’s usually harmless, this bacteria can sometimes lead to a serious condition known as MRSA or staph infection. Staph infection most commonly occurs on the skin, however, the bacteria can travel to the respiratory system as well, potentially leading to pneumonia and breathing difficulties. Staph infection can also sometimes lead to sepsis – an extreme bodily reaction to an infection that constitutes a life-threatening medical emergency.

Fungal Diseases

• Pneumocystis Pneumonia: Pneumocystis pneumonia is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii. Despite the fact that this fungus is thought to live inside the lungs of up to 20% of people, it is extremely rare for healthy individuals to contract Pneumocystis pneumonia. Immunocompromised individuals such as those with HIV/AIDS, however, are quite prone to Pneumocystis pneumonia, and, in these patients, the symptoms can often be severe.

It is also worth noting that this is not a comprehensive list of all bacterial, viral, and fungal targets that are tested for in our upper respiratory molecular PCR testing but rather a list of the more common respiratory diseases in each category. For a full list of the targets covered by our PCR testing, check out this link.

Should You Schedule an Appointment for Molecular PCR Testing With St. Jude Labs?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of an upper respiratory disease, it is a good idea to undergo upper respiratory molecular PCR testing. In addition to testing you for COVID-19, PCR testing can also identify a wide range of other respiratory illnesses that might require prompt treatment. To receive testing that will let you and your physician know the exact cause of your upper respiratory symptoms, be sure to schedule an appointment for PCR testing with St. Jude Labs today.