High-throughput multiplex detection of respiratory pathogens: multicenter evaluation of the NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel v2 assay

Respiratory infections remain a major global health challenge, particularly during seasonal epidemics and pandemics. Rapid and accurate pathogen detection is essential to guide treatment decisions, limit transmission, and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. This multicenter study evaluated the updated NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel v2 (RPPv2), a high-throughput molecular assay capable of detecting 22 common viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens from a single sample. The panel demonstrated high accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability across multiple clinical sites and sample types, including both fresh and frozen specimens. These findings support the NxTAG RPPv2 as a comprehensive, efficient diagnostic tool that can support respiratory infection diagnosis and contribute to multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship efforts.