The BIOFIRE^® SPOTFIRE^® Respiratory Solution: A Custom Fit for Your Clinic’s Needs

The benefit of low-plex and high-plex testing options on one platform

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory tract infections were among the top three diagnoses in point-of-care settings—they’re one of the main reasons patients seek care.1 In the era of COVID-19, now more than ever, patients want certainty about what’s causing their respiratory illness.

Unfortunately, rapid antigen tests may not provide the certainty patients are looking for. Rapid antigen tests generally only test for one to three pathogens and they are less sensitive than molecular tests, leaving patients with uncertainty about the accuracy of negative results. When patients have taken the time and effort to visit a clinic for care, they want a more definitive answer than “You probably don’t have COVID-19 or influenza. You likely have some other viral infection.”

Data from BIOFIRE^® Syndromic Trends (Trend) demonstrate that numerous respiratory pathogens circulate each year. At times in 2022, rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) greatly outpaced coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.².

The Syndromic Approach

The BIOFIRE^® syndromic approach enables outpatient practices to provide fast, comprehensive answers for greater piece of mind. The syndromic approach combines a group of probable pathogens into one quick PCR test. This maximizes the chance of getting an accurate answer in a timeframe suited to the point of care.

The BIOFIRE^® SPOTFIRE^® Respiratory Solution offers onsite, lab-grade PCR respiratory testing with results on a syndromic panel in about 15 minutes. The SPOTFIRE Respiratory Solution tests for more than SARS-COV-2, influenza, and RSV, providing a fuller picture to help inform patient management decisions. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR testing helps give clinicians—and their worried patients—confidence in the results.

Targeted and Expanded Syndromic Testing

The FDA-cleared and CLIA-waived BIOFIRE®SPOTFIRE^® Respiratory (R) Panel is an expanded syndromic test that identifies 15 of the most common respiratory pathogens. Additionally, the newly FDA-cleared and CLIA-waived BIOFIRE^® SPOTFIRE^® Respiratory (R) Panel Mini identifies five key viral respiratory pathogens.

Expanded SPOTFIRE^® R Panel: 1 PCR test. 15 targets. ~15 minutes.

Targeted SPOTFIRE^®R Panel Mini: 1 PCR test. 5 targets. ~15 minutes.

Compared with traditional testing options, targeted syndromic testing may help provide more informed therapy with answers on five of the most common respiratory targets in one rapid and accurate PCR test. More targets mean a higher probability detecting the infecting pathogen(s)—helping reduce guesswork and the cost of additional testing.

Expanded syndromic testing provides the highest probability of detecting causative pathogens compared to traditional and targeted testing. The accuracy of PCR testing combined with an expanded menu of 15 targets may provide clinicians with the confidence to make a definitive diagnosis and appropriate therapy decisions. Fast, comprehensive answers can help support antibiotic stewardship, reduce follow-up testing, and give patients peace of mind. Furthermore, expanded syndromic testing can aid clinicians in making patient-management decisions likes admission, isolation, and cohorting.

Using either targeted or expanded syndromic testing gives clinicians flexibility and may also help improve patient satisfaction. Administering just one swab to test for multiple pathogens may result in reduced swabbing, fewer tests, and fewer follow-up appointments or callbacks—all of which could improve the overall patient experience and help streamline workflow.