Living with respiratory viruses: The next saga in human/viral coexistence?

Testing for respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in clinical and epidemiological settings has contrasting purposes and utility. Symptomatic patients are best tested with respiratory virus panels to establish the pathogen and guide personalized treatment. Asymptomatic patients are tested for a single infectious pathogen to establish carrier status and guide containment.

Automated summary

Testing for respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in clinical and epidemiological settings serves different purposes for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic patients are best tested with respiratory virus panels to establish the pathogen for personalized treatment, while asymptomatic patients are tested for a single infectious pathogen to determine carrier status for containment measures.