RSV Rapid Test

Product information

The RSV Rapid Test a lateral flow, qualitative immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection (respiratory syncytial virus) in the respiratory tract.

Advantages of RSV test

• Easy to perform
• No complex sample collection needed
• Accurate test result

General information

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most important cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and small children. Like the other respiratory viruses, RSV causes a range of respiratory illness, the most common being a cold with profuse rhinorrhea. Between 1 and 2% of infected infants require hospitalization, the most severe disease occurring in the first year of life and in those with underlying cardiopulmonary disease.

In normal infants and children, the virus is shed for 2 to 3 weeks overall or 1 or 2 weeks after the children appear in the hospital. Because of its high infectivity and because hospital staff as well as patients are susceptible, RSV has emerged as the most frequent cause of nosocomial infections on pediatric wards.

The studies of Hall and Taber and their colleagues established that RSV bronchiolitis and pneumonia could be successfully treated by administration of ribavirin aerosol. This finding has made accurate, rapid identification of cases through laboratory methods an important part of the care of children in hospitals.

Contrary to the classical methods (Immunofluorescence and ELISA) which are laborious and time consuming, RSV Rapid Test is a fast, simple and highly sensitive test for the rapid and reliable detection of RSV in the respiratory tract.

The method employs a unique combination of monoclonal dye conjugate and polyclonal solid phase antibodies to selectively identify RSV with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. After collection and treatment, the sample is added to the sample well (▷) of the reaction device. As the test sample flows through the absorbent device, the labelled antibody-dye conjugate binds to the RSV antigen (when present in the sample) forming an antibody antigen complex.

This complex binds to the polyclonal antibody in the positive reaction zone (T) producing a rose-pink colored band. In the absence of RSV, there is no line in the positive reaction zone (T). The reaction mixture continues flowing through the absorbent device, past the positive reaction zone (T) and control zone (C). Unbound conjugate binds to the reagent in the control zone producing a rose-pink colored band demonstrating that the reagents are functioning correctly.

Test procedure

1. Bring all reagents at room temperature.
2. Remove the test device from the pouch.
3. Using the plastic pipette, add 5 drops (150 μL) of the extracted solution into the sample well.
4. Read the results of the test 10 minutes after addition of the sample to the device.

Interpretation of the results

Negative result: One colored band appears in the control zone (C). No band is visible in the test zone (T).

Positive result: In addition to the control band (C), a clearly distinguishable band also appears in the test zone (T), indicating a positive result.

Invalid result: If there is no distinct colored band visible in both test and control windows, the test is inconclusive. Repeat the test.