RSV, Virus RSV, Virus

RSV Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management

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Testing for RSV is key for diagnosis1,2

RSV, Patient

Diagnosis in primary care is usually based on symptoms and local epidemiology3
RSV is under-diagnosed and under-reported in adults4, in part because:

  • Symptoms of RSV may be indistinguishable from those of other respiratory infections2
  • Laboratory diagnosis of RSV infections in adults is not routine practice4

Different laboratory tests are available to confirm RSV infection:1,2

RSV, PCR, Testing

RNA detection by RT-PCR1,2

  • Excellent sensitivity and specificity
  • Useful for older children and adults with lower viral loads in respiratory secretions
RSV, Antigen, Testing

Antigen detection by ELISA or immunofluorescence1,2

  • Most reliable in young children in whom these tests have sensitivity of around 80–90%
  • Less useful in older children and adults due to low viral loads
RSV, Testing

Culture isolation1,2

  • Time consuming (2–5 days) and requires skilled personnel
  • Generally reliable in young children
  • Less useful in older children and adults (due to lower viral loads)

Early diagnosis may help provide better care for older adults with RSV4

Diagnosis of RSV in adults may help to:

RSV, Patient

Enable timely isolation of infected patients in acute care settings4

RSV, Stopwatch

Inform clinical decisions and enable implementation of early interventions*4,5

RSV, Pharmacy

Improve counselling of patients and their families about prognosis and need for post-hospitalisation rehabilitation services4

RSV, Pharmacy

Reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics5

*For example, chest physiotherapy, bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory treatments, physical therapy5

Vaccines to help protect against RSV in the older adult and maternal populations, as well as immunisations to help protect infants, are licensed in the UK.9

Infection prevention and control measures to limit the spread of RSV such as those below can help reduce the risk of disease transmission.6

RSV, Cough

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands6

RSV, Hygeine

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds6

RSV, Distance

Avoid close contact with individuals infected with RSV6

RSV, Hygiene

Clean frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs and mobile devices6

Currently no specific treatments for RSV are available for adults7

RSV, Virus

Supportive care is the basis of therapy for acute RSV infection in adults, and may include bronchodilators, supplemental oxygen, fluid replacement and antipyretics7,8

Learn more about RSV disease and its burden in adults:

RSV, Virus

RSV Disease Overview

Click here to find out more about RSV disease

LEARN MORE

Abbreviations

ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; LRTI, lower respiratory tract infection; PCR, Polymerase chain reaction; RT-PCR, reverse transcription PCR; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus

References

  1. Henrickson KJ, Hall CB. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007;26:S36–S40
  2. CDC;2024 Diagnostic Testing for RSV https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/clinical-overview/diagnostic-testing.html Accessed December 2025
  3. Mayo Clinic, 2023. RSV diagnosis and treatment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353104?p=1 Accessed December 2025
  4. Branche AR. Clin Inf Dis 2019;69:204-206
  5. Lee N et al. J Infect Dis 2019;220:969–979
  6. CDC; 2024 How RSV Spreads https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/causes/index.html Accessed December 2025
  7. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases; 2024 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) https://www.nfid.org/infectious-disease/rsv/ Accessed December 2025
  8. Nam HH, Ison MG. BMJ 2019;366:l5021
  9. Department of Health Green Book Chapter 27a Respiratory syncytial virus. Accessed December 2025

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