Clinically useful method for the isolation of respiratory syncytial virus

A simple method for the isolation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is reported; it is relatively rapid and results in a high frequency of recovery of virus. A nasal secretion specimen with high titers of virus is inoculated at the bedside onto susceptible cell lines to avoid loss of viral infectivity due to liability of the virus. During an outbreak of RSV, viral specimens were obtained by this method from all young children admitted to the hospital with lower respiratory tract disease. RSV or influenza A virus was recovered from 89% of these 45 children. RSV was isolated from 87% of those with pneumonia. RSV was recovered 60% less often from specimens obtained simultaneously by conventional nasopharyngeal swabs. Identification of RSV cytopathic effect was more rapid with use of the bedside nasal wash method and was accomplished in an average of four days. Hence, this information was available to the clinicician when it was still useful in the management of the patient's illness.