Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very contagious, common viral respiratory infection. RSV testing detects the presence of respiratory syncytial virus in nasal secretions to help diagnose the infection. Acceptable specimens for these tests are nasal/pharyngeal (NP) swabs or nasal washes/aspirations. Specimen Collection Nasal/Pharyngeal Swab   Specimen is to be collected on a cotton, rayon, or Dacron swab with an …

Sample collection technique is critical in RSV testing (respiratory syncytial virus testing). The best and most frequently used sample is a nasal aspirate or wash. A syringe is used to push a small amount of sterile saline into the nose, then gentle suction is applied (for the aspirate) or the resulting fluid is collected into a cup (for a wash). …