Publication date: Dec 15, 2025
Respiratory viral infections by SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B viruses, and RSV overlap in disease signs and symptomology, but differ in treatment modality. Nasal swab specimens have been shown to be an effective alternative specimen type for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This study evaluated the performance of the Panther Fusion(R) SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in anterior nasal swab specimens (self- or healthcare professional [HCP]-) collected in either viral/universal (VTM/UTM) transport media or the Hologic(R) RespDirect(R) collection kit (RespDirect swab in enhanced specimen transport media [eSTM]). A multicenter study was conducted from October 2022 to March 2024. A total of 2686 nasal swab specimens collected in VTM/UTM or in eSTM were tested with the investigational assay and comparator molecular assays. Positive and negative agreement were calculated for each viral target. Overall, the results of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in nasal swab specimens demonstrated high concordance with the nasal swab-based molecular comparator methods with positive and negative percent agreement of 96. 6 % and 98. 9 % for SARS-CoV-2, 96. 1 % and 99. 3 % for influenza A virus, 96. 0 % and 99. 8 % for influenza B virus, and 97. 7 % and 99. 6 % for RSV, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between specimens in VTM/UTM and eSTM and between self- or HCP-collected swabs in either transport medium for any of the viral pathogens. The results of this study indicate that both self- and HCP- collected anterior nasal swabs in VTM or eSTM matrix are suitable options for detecting SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV using the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay.
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Influenza |
| Influenza | Multiplex molecular assay |
| Molecular | Nasal swab |
| Panther | Panther fusion |
| Professional | Respiratory syncytial virus |
| SARS-CoV-2 |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | viral infections |
| pathway | KEGG | Influenza A |
| disease | MESH | HCP |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Influenza A virus |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Influenza B virus |
| disease | MESH | Influenza |
| disease | MESH | respiratory tract infections |
| disease | MESH | infections |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Gold |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Coenzyme M |
| disease | MESH | char |
| disease | MESH | included |
| disease | MESH | emergency |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Phenylpropanolamine |
| disease | MESH | PPA |
| disease | MESH | cough |
| disease | MESH | sore throat |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Aspartame |
| disease | MESH | ators |
| disease | MESH | coinfections |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Guanidine |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Etoperidone |
| disease | MESH | Rad |
| disease | MESH | David |
| disease | MESH | COVID 19 |
| disease | MESH | Dis |
| disease | MESH | Infectious Diseases |