Why get tested?
To determine whether an infant, an elderly patient, or an immunocompromised patient has respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and to help determine whether or not RSV season has started in your community

When to get tested?
When it is RSV season (late fall through early spring) and your doctor wants to determine whether your runny nose, congestion, coughing and/or difficulty breathing are due to RSV or to other causes

Sample required?
Usually a nasal aspirate or nasal wash; occasionally a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab