{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nSince COVID-19 entered long-term management, SARS-CoV-2 has become increasingly integrated into routine respiratory diagnostics. However, longitudinal laboratory trends and its relative position within multiplex respiratory pathogen testing remain incompletely described in real-world hospital practice. We characterized SARS-CoV-2 in two complementary diagnostic contexts: longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing (Phase A) and multiplex respiratory pathogen testing (Phase B).Methods\n\nWe analyzed routine laboratory data from January 2024 to January 2026 to summarize monthly SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing volume and positivity (Phase A). We also analyzed data from the 11-target respiratory PCR testing workflow from January 2025 to January 2026 (Phase B; de-duplicated overall cohort, N = 3,941), with additional analyses in a hospitalized-only subset (n = 3,461). Detection rates were calculated using tested denominators, with multiple pathogens allowed per sample. Under the primary definition, weakly positive results were classified as positive.Results\n\nIn Phase A, 19,207 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were performed, with an overall positivity rate of 10.43%. Monthly positivity showed recurrent temporal fluctuations, and increases in testing volume did not consistently correspond to higher positivity. In Phase B (overall cohort), human rhinovirus (21.02%) and respiratory syncytial virus (13.71%) were the most frequently detected pathogens, followed by influenza A virus (7.59%). In the hospitalized-only subset, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 3.90% of samples, ranking fifth among 11 targets. Co-detection of ≥ 2 pathogens occurred in 318/3,941 samples (8.1%); the most frequent pairs were HRV + RSV (2.31%), HRV+adenovirus (1.42%), and HRV+influenza A virus (0.96%).Conclusions\n\nUnder post-adjustment routine clinical practice, SARS-CoV-2 showed recurrent fluctuations in longitudinal PCR testing and remained a non-dominant component of the Phase B respiratory pathogen testing workflow. A phase-structured laboratory framework may improve interpretation of routine respiratory diagnostic outputs and support context-aware hospital respiratory pathogen surveillance.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Lishui Municipal Central Hospital), Lishui, Zhejiang, China.",
    "Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Lishui Municipal Central Hospital), Lishui, Zhejiang, China. sherryhu830416@126.com."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jian-Min Ren"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Yao Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Peng Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hui Ding"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Li-Hong Pei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Wei-Ping Jiang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Mei Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jian-Sheng Huang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Lei Hu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kexrkn3ex9xe.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12879-026-14147-z",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13729405",
  "id": "1kexrkn3ex9xe",
  "issns": [
    "1471-2334"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972503",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7172489669",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13729405?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13729405",
  "pmid": "42972503",
  "published": "2026-08-05",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kexrkn3ex9xe.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:45Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42972503",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972503"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:22:10Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13729405",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14147-z"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The diagnostic role of SARS-CoV-2 in routine respiratory testing after policy adjustment: a real-world laboratory study integrating longitudinal PCR and respiratory pathogen testing workflow data.",
  "title_text": "The diagnostic role of SARS-CoV-2 in routine respiratory testing after policy adjustment: a real-world laboratory study integrating longitudinal PCR and respiratory pathogen testing workflow data.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:22:10Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1kexrkn3ex9xe",
  "venue": "BMC infectious diseases",
  "versions": []
}