DIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENT IDENTIFICATION OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS IN THROAT SWABS FROM CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Abstract The immunofluorescent technique was applied to exfoliated cells obtained by swab from the nasopharynx of children with respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus. The immunofluorescent technique produced a positive confirmed diagnosis in 70% of instances, with a total laboratory processing-time of one hour per specimen.