Respiratory panel includes which pathogens

• A. Strep pneumoniae
• B. Ebola virus
• C. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• D. Flu, COVID, RSV

Answer: (D)

A respiratory panel is designed to quickly identify the viral causes of acute respiratory illness so clinicians can tailor infection control and treatment. The most common targets are the major seasonal viruses that present with similar symptoms and drive decisions about isolation and antiviral therapy: influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These are the pathogens routinely included because they are viruses and are central to managing respiratory infections. Strep pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are bacteria and TB, while Ebola virus is not a typical respiratory pathogen tested in standard panels; they are outside the usual scope of a viral respiratory panel. Therefore, including flu, COVID, and RSV best fits what a respiratory panel is designed to detect.