UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: RSV Rapid testing use

Keywords: RSV, Apnea, Congenital Heart Disease, Chronic Lung Disease, Prematurity, Rapid testing (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/4/2008 by Sean Fox, MD (Updated: 4/25/2024)
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Bronchiolitis: Use of RSV rapid testing

Firstly, know that the sensitivity of the test is ~60% (leaving 40% that have the disease testing falsely negative)
Secondly, in whom will the result impact your decision?
- High-risk patient populations (at risk of decompensation or apnea)
  - Premature (especially <34 wks GA)
  - Infants < 2months of age
  - Chronic Lung Disease
  - Congenital Heart Disease
- Infants undergoing sepsis evaluations
  - The incidence of concominant serious bacterial infection and RSV is low (<1%)

Purcell K, Fergie J. Concominant serious bacterial infections in 2396 infans and children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infections. Arch pediatr adolesce med. 2002; 156: 322-324.