Public Health Division

Test Menu Details

If testing people symptomatic for highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), please visit the OSPHL Submitting Influenza Specimens to OSPHL website for specific specimen collection requirements.

SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR
Updated	10/31/2025
Search Terms	COVID-19; Influenza A; Influenza B; Flu SC2
How to Order	On the Virology/Immunology Test Request Form (OHA0042), in the "Molecular" section, check the box for "COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2, RT-PCR or NAAT." Complete all required fields. If the specimen is associated with an identified outbreak, include the outbreak number in the Outbreak Number box on the test request form.
Availability	1. Laboratories submitting specimens for influenza or SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. 2. With State Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Program (ACDP) approval.
Performed	Once per week or more, depending on demand
Time to Reporting	Within 5 working days after receipt of specimen
Public Health Data	Data from SARS-CoV-2 testing are shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) as part of national viral surveillance. Data from influenza testing are shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) as part of Global Influenza Surveillance.
CPT Code	87636

Specimen Collection Details
Collection	Collect specimen(s) using Dacron polyester tips or flocked swabs on a plastic shaft (wooden shaft swabs are not acceptable). Insert swabs into viral transport media (preferred). Universal transport media and sterile saline are acceptable. Do not submit a dry swab for testing. DO NOT SUBMIT Molecular Transport Media (MTM) for this test. Media containing guanidine thiocyanate or similar chemicals are not acceptable for testing. Acceptable specimen sources include: Upper Respiratory: Nasopharyngeal swabs (preferred), nasal swabs, throat swabs, combination swabs (2 swabs from accepted specimen sources in one vial) Lower respiratory: nasal aspirates, nasal washes, bronchoalveolar lavages, bronchial washes, tracheal aspirates, sputum, lung tissue, or cell culture isolates. Instructions for collecting respiratory specimens are available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/healthcare/flu-specimen-collection-guide.pdf.
Optimal Volume	3.0 mL
Minimum Volume	1.0 mL
Handling	Store specimens at refrigerated temperatures (2-8°C) pending transport. Specimens that will not be tested within 72 hours of collection should be frozen at -70°C pending transport. Specimens may also be stored at -20°C for up to 3 days. Minimize the potential for multiple freeze/thaw cycles during handling, storage, and testing to prevent viral degradation.
Transport	Package specimens with fully frozen ice packs to maintain refrigerated temperatures during transport. Transport for receipt at the OSPHL within 3 days of specimen collection. If specimen is frozen, transport using dry ice to maintain frozen temperatures during transport.
Rejection Criteria	Dry swabs; swabs containing calcium alginate, cotton tips, or wooden shafts; and specimens submitted in the incorrect transport media. Specimens are subject to the requirements of the OSPHL Specimen Submission Policy (pdf).
Comments	Qualifying specimens may be reflexed to additional testing. Discrepant results between test platforms may occur for specimens containing low quantity of virus. For additional details about OSPHL's testing process, please review the COVID-19 and Influenza Testing Algorithm (pdf). COVID-19 Positive Specimens: Qualifying specimens may be selected for next generation sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. For more detail, please review the SARS-CoV-2 Next Generation Sequencing Test Menu page. Influenza Positive Specimens: Specimens that test positive for influenza A or influenza B will be reflexed to subtyping or genotyping assays, respectively, for further characterization. For more details refer to the Influenza A and B Real-Time RT-PCR with Reflex Subtyping and Lineage Test Menu page. State epidemiologists may request additional respiratory pathogen testing or SARS-CoV-2 sequencing from OSPHL if needed for outbreak identification and management. If laboratory circumstances or reagent supply require, OSPHL may test specimens for this test order using the SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B NAAT with Reflex test. Original material submitted for testing is retained for 7 calendar days after receipt at the laboratory.

Method Details
Methodology	Influenza SARS-CoV-2 (Flu SC2) Multiplex Assay - Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) (Entity: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Performance Specifications	This assay is performed as a modification of the procedure under FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Performance Specifications are available on the FDA Emergency Use Authorization webpage.

Change Log
10/31/2025	Updated Availability
2/21/2025	Updated Comments
2/19/2025	Updated Search Terms; How to Order; Handling; Added Public Health Data
10/19/2023	Updated Collection section
5/23/2023	Reviewed; no changes