Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Tests
Reviewed
RSV tests check a fluid sample from your nose to see if respiratory syncytial virus is causing symptoms of a respiratory infection. Most people with mild symptoms do not need testing, but it may be used for infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems who have moderate to severe symptoms.
Preparation and collection
None.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A negative test does not rule out RSV because there may not be enough virus in the sample.
- Results are less accurate if the sample is not taken within the first few days after symptoms begin.
- Rapid antigen tests are less sensitive than molecular tests and may miss the virus in older children and adults who have less virus in their nose.
What to do next
Discuss all results with your healthcare provider to understand what they mean for your situation. The provider will recommend the best next steps, which may include home care, monitoring, or hospital care if needed.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Tests