Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Antigen, DFA

5291

3 mL of nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash or nasopharyngeal swab in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent

1 mL

Bronchial lavage/wash or tracheal aspirate in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent • Nasopharyngeal lavage/wash or bronchial lavage/wash in a sterile screw cap container

To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into VCM (equal volumes of fluid and VCM) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8° C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in VCM or equivalent should be frozen at -70° C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20° C is not acceptable. Raw (unpreserved) samples should only be refrigerated and not frozen.

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Please note: Specimens in VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent may be shipped at -70° C

VCM medium (green-cap) tube or equivalent
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 4 days
Frozen -30° C: Unacceptable
Frozen -70° C: 30 days

Raw (unpreserved) specimens
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Specimen in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens • Dry swabs • Slides • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Received room temperature or frozen -20° C

Set up: Mon-Fri; Report available: Next day

See Laboratory Report

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory disease in children from the ages of 6 weeks to 2 years and in the elderly. RSV infection can be fatal. Rapid early diagnosis permits the early administration of antiviral drugs in severe infections.