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RSV Tests: How Do You Know if You or Your Child Has RSV?
By By Becky Upham. Medically Reviewed by Michael S. Niederman, MD,
15 days ago
Rapid RSV tests are typically available at ERs as well as walk-in and urgent care clinics. Adobe Stock
Key Takeaways
There are two main kinds of RSV tests: rapid (antigen) and RT-PCR (molecular).
An RSV test can help determine what's causing symptoms like runny nose, coughing, fever, and wheezing.
Doctors don't usually test people for RSV except in special circumstances.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be difficult to diagnose. As with many viral illnesses, including COVID-19 and the flu , RSV can cause symptoms resembling those of the common cold. This can make it hard for people to know if they have RSV or a different kind of respiratory infection.
On top of that, it's possible for a person to be infected with more than one virus at the same time, complicating diagnosis even further.
But there are a number of tests for adults with RSV and sick babies and older children that can help reveal the source of an illness. Read on to learn more about the different kinds of RSV tests - plus why doctors usually don't use these tests except in specific circumstances.
Main Types of RSV Tests
There are two main kinds of tests used to diagnose an RSV infection.
Rapid Tests This test, also called an antigen test, is used in the majority of cases. It is accurate 80 to 90 percent of the time, returning results in about an hour.
The test analyzes a fluid sample taken from the nose and can detect the presence of certain proteins from the virus, called antigens. Antigens trigger the immune system to attack the virus.
"Usually, rapid tests are available at walk-in or urgent care centers, and ERs," says Sharon Nachman, MD , the chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Medicine in New York.
RT-PCR Tests Polymerase chain reaction tests, also called molecular tests, look for genetic material from the virus in a nasal sample. Because these tests can find smaller amounts of virus than antigen tests, doctors may use them for adults and older children, who tend to have less of the virus in their noses than infants and younger children.
The samples are usually sent to a lab for testing, and the amount of time it takes to get results can vary.
A type of molecular test called a respiratory pathogens panel checks for numerous viruses and bacteria at the same time, including RSV.
Is There an RSV Home Test?
Unlike with COVID-19, there is no home test for RSV in the United States, says Dr. Nachman.
Americans do have the option of a home collection kit from Labcorp , which is available without a prescription. You swab your nose at home, then send the sample to Labcorp via overnight mail for analysis. Testing searches for three viral infections at once - RSV, COVID-19, and the flu. The analysis takes a day or two, at a cost of $129 (without insurance coverage).
Doctors Typically Diagnose RSV Without Testing
Healthy adults and older children who haven't had direct contact with an infected person usually don't need an RSV test, experts say. Most of the time, RSV is a clinical diagnosis, says David Banach, MD, MPH , an associate professor of medicine and the head of infection prevention at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut. That means that a doctor may diagnose RSV based on the season (RSV typically spreads from the fall to the early spring) and information about circulating viruses as well as the person's contact history, health history, and symptoms. People sick with RSV usually show signs of infection within four to six days of exposure.
Generally speaking, adults and children with RSV have similar symptoms, says Nachman.
Symptoms of RSV infection usually include:
Runny nose
Decrease in appetite
Coughing
Sneezing
Fever
Wheezing
These symptoms usually appear at stages in the illness and not all at once.
Very young infants with RSV may not develop all the above symptoms; sometimes the only indications that a baby is sick are irritability, decreased activity, and trouble breathing.
Should You Get an RSV Test?
There are some cases where doctors will want to make or confirm an RSV diagnosis with a test - for example, in people who are at high risk of severe complications or those with moderate to severe symptoms.
It's important to identify RSV in these cases because of the possibility of serious RSV-related illness , such as bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs), which can lead to hospitalization.
A Positive RSV Test Doesn't Usually Lead to RSV Treatment
"The beauty of a diagnostic test is to help with treatment," says Nachman. That's useful for COVID-19 and the flu, both of which can be treated with antiviral medication. "But unfortunately, RSV doesn't have a specific antiviral treatment," Nachman says.
Instead, doctors will tell you to recover at home by drinking lots of fluids, taking over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol for pain and fever, and resting. "Those things will help you, but they are nonspecific for respiratory viruses," Nachman says.
The rare exceptions: Babies born at less than 29 weeks and immunocompromised adults who are very sick with RSV may be treated in the hospital with the drug ribavirin , says Nachman.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Sources
Did You Know You Can Get Combinations of COVID, RSV, and Flu at the Same Time? UCHealth. January 26, 2024.
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