The use of cough-nasal swabs in the rapid diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection by the fluorescent antibody technique.

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Thirty-five consecutive infants admitted into hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne with acute respiratory disease had cough/nasal swabs and nasopharyngeal secretions taken. Both types of specimens were examined by the fluorescent antibody technique for respiratory syncytial virus; isolation techniques were also used. Twenty-eight specimens of nasopharyngeal secretion were positive, as were 26 of the corresponding cough/nasal swab preparations. Respiratory syncytial virus was isolated from all but one.Sixteen consecutive children who were only suitable for examination by cough/nasal swab preparations were also investigated by isolation and fluorescent antibody techniques for respiratory syncytial virus. Respiratory syncytial virus was isolated from eight, seven of whom were positive by the fluorescent antibody technique. The use of cough/nasal swab preparations stained by the fluorescent antibody technique, although not as efficient as nasopharyngeal secretions, may have a place in the rapid diagnosis of respiratory virus infection in older children and children in general practice. The importance of rapid diagnosis for respiratory virus infection in relationship to antiviral therapy was also discussed.