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Diagnose Confidently, Deescalate Earlier: The Value of Multiplex PCR for ED Respiratory Cases

By the bioMérieux Editors | Reading time: 2 min

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PUBLICATION DATE: July 09, 2026

The Impact of Molecular Diagnostics on Real Cases from the ED

When an otherwise healthy patient presents to the emergency department (ED) with mild respiratory symptoms, the risks associated with empiric therapy is generally low. Immunocompromised patients, on the other hand, don’t have the luxury of uncertainty. For these at-risk individuals, a missed diagnosis or prolonged exposure to empiric antimicrobials may worsen outcomes.1

These are the kinds of cases that Christopher Coyne, MD, MPH, encounters regularly. As an ED clinician and Director of Acute Oncology Care, Dr. Coyne’s priority is to make sense of complex respiratory presentations and improve clinical decision-making, particularly around appropriate escalation and de-escalation of antimicrobials, within a fast-paced environment. 

BIOFIRE® Respiratory 2.1 (RP2.1) Panel and BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Pneumonia (PN) Panel.

BIOFIRE® PCR-Based Respiratory Testing

To meet the need for both speed and diagnostic accuracy, Dr. Coyne and his team have turned to the BIOFIRE® Respiratory 2.1 (RP2.1) Panel* and BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Pneumonia (PN) Panel.*

These multiplex molecular tests, which run on the BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® TORCH System, detect a broad range of viral and bacterial targets associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Notably, the BIOFIRE PN Panel also detects antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes commonly associated with pneumonia, helping to guide more targeted and appropriate antimicrobial prescribing.

With fast turnaround times—approximately 45 minutes to one hour—these tests have become an integral part of Dr. Coyne’s clinical practice, enabling faster, more informed decisions at the point of care.

“Without that [BIOFIRE RP2.1] test result, this case could have easily led to more aggressive and prolonged antibiotic use, additional testing, and just greater uncertainty. Instead, we were able to anchor the clinical picture early and manage the patient more precisely. ”

– Christopher Coyne, MD, MPH on a respiratory case for a patient undergoing chemotherapy
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*The performance of the BIOFIRE RP2.1 Panel and BIOFIRE PN Panel has not been specifically evaluated for specimens from immunocompromised individuals.

References:

  1. Polacek C, Timbrook TT, Cui C, Heins Z, Rosenthal NA. Prevalence and healthcare burden of inappropriate antimicrobial treatment in patients at high risk of complications from acute respiratory infections: a scoping review. Front Med. 2025;12:1533797. doi:10.3389/fmed.2025.1533797

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