Which test is used to determine if a child has respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

• A. We will swab your child's nose and send that specimen for testing.
• B. There is no specific test for RSV. The diagnosis is made based on the child's symptoms.
• C. We will do a simple blood test to determine whether your child has RSV.
• D. We will have to send a viral culture to an outside lab for testing.

Answer: (A)

Testing for RSV is done by collecting a sample from the nose, usually with a swab, and sending it to the lab to look for the virus. This can be a rapid antigen test done at the bedside or a PCR test that detects viral RNA in the specimen. Nasal/nasopharyngeal samples are preferred because RSV lives in the respiratory tract and is most detectable there, especially in young children. A simple blood test won’t reliably diagnose RSV, and viral culture, while possible, is slow and not used for routine diagnosis. This nasal swab approach is the standard way to confirm RSV infection.