MERS-CoV: General considerations for Laboratory Diagnosis

The confirmation of a probable or suspicious case of infection by Middle East respiratory syndrome - coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (based on clinical and epidemiological criteria), can only be accomplished through laboratory testing. However, other viral respiratory pathogens (including, but not limited to: influenza, respiratory syncitial virus, other common human beta and alphacoronavirus) and bacterial (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Legionella pneumophila) should be considered within the diagnostic algorithm.