Delivering Science Supporting Healthcare

Pneumonia Panel – BioFire® FilmArray®

Service
Test Background

Multiplex PCR to detect the following pathogens:

Detection at a minimum of 10^4 copies/ml:

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex
Acinetobacter cloacae complex
Eschericia coli
Haemophilus influenzae
Klebsiella aerogenes
Klebsiella oxytoca
Klebsiella pnuemoniae group
Moraxella catarrhalis
Proteus spp.
Pseudomonas auruginosa
Serratia marcescens
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus agalaciae
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pyogenes

Qualitative detection of:

Chlamydia pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Adenovirus
Coronavirus
Human metapneumovirus
Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus
Influenza A
Influenza B
Coronavirus
Parainfluenza virus
Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Antimicrobial resistance genes:
CTX-M, IMP, KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like, VIM, mecA/C and MREJ

Clinical Indications

For critical care and immunosuppressed patients to improve accuracy of management and aim to limit broad spectrum antibiotic use for antimicrobial stewardship.

Reference Range

N/A

Sample volume
Minimum 1ml
Turnaround time
12 hours
Sample & Container Required
Bronchoalveolar lavage (including non-directed)
Sample Container
Sterile universal
Sample Collection

Bronchial washings. Call/email microbiology consultants to discuss testing.

Transport Storage
Transport sample to Microbiology at Charing Cross hospital immediately.
Notes

Requests MUST be approved by a Microbiology or Virology Consultant.

This assay is not UKAS accredited.

Accreditation

This test is not currently accredited

Record last updated
September 2, 2025

Sample Container

60ml Universal container - Sputum and Fluids (White top)

Search test database

Test Results

Yes, we have a Pathology User Guide

Yes. Please email your request to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net

Results are communicated to clinical staff and are normally not communicated direct to patients either on telephone requests or in written report. If you need to contact us please click here to view the contact details page

Please contact the Customer Service Team Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 6:00pm on 0203 313 5353. Alternatively, see the Pathology User Guide for how to contact the relevant department. If advice is not urgent you can also email your query to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net

Additional tests may be added by discussion with the relevant laboratory. The time limit for adding additional tests to a sample already received in the laboratory will depend on the type of sample and the department it was sent to.

Information on the repertoire of tests performed by pathology, including reference ranges, turnaround times and specimen requirements, can be found in the test directory.

NWLP operates UKAS accredited medical laboratories as per the references below. The current scope of accreditation for all NWLP’s laboratories can be found on the UKAS website.

See the following UKAS ref numbers:

  • Clinical Biochemistry Ref: 8673
  • Haematology and Blood Transfusion Ref: 8674
  • Infection & Immunity Sciences (Including Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics ) Ref: 8659
  • Cellular Pathology (Including Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Pathology) Ref: 9615

If you require copies of our certificate of accreditation and associated documentation please contact Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net.

UKAS requires the laboratories to be accredited for a particular repertoire/scope (ISO15189), any changes or additions to repertoire require assessment by UKAS (extension to scope).

The BD Hospital Tube GuideBD GP Tube Guide and BD Paediatric Tube Guide provide visual references to the correct tube types and collection instructions.

Home testing

INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION 

We also have two instruction videos available (one with subtitles and one without) – please click on the links to view the videos on Google.

VIDEO ON BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION (without subtitles)

VIDEO ON BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION (with subtitles)

Our accreditations

Upholding excellence in diagnostic standards

Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the international standard ISO15189:2022. UKAS is the accreditation body for the UK that assesses medical laboratories.

Find out more about our accreditations on the UKAS website.

UKAS website
Man in the lab handling a sample