Eurofins Biomnis code

VRS

Synonyms

• Respiratory Syncitial Virus

Clinic significance

Pneumovirus responsible for winter annual epidemic respiratory infections. Usually limited to upper airways in adults and older childern, the infection spreads to the larynx, bronchial tree and the lungs in infants (and possibly the elderly) and may case serious cases of acute bronchiolitis with severe respiratory difficulty. Contamination is by direct transmission. Diagnosis is easily made by examination of a smear taken from a nasopharyngeal sample after marking with a fluorescent monoclonal antibody. Isolation of the virus is possible but requires fast transport under refrigeration. Serology is only of retrospective interest (seroconversion).

Prenalytics

• 1 mL
• serum (do not use 10 mL tube)
• Refrigerated

Further information

Methodology

Enzyme-immunoassay

Turnaround time

1 week