RESPIRATORY VIRUS ISOLATION

Lab Section Category	Virology View write-up
Specimen Required	Nasopharyngeal aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage Throat swab, sputum, endotracheal tube aspirate Biopsy/autopsy lung tissue Send samples in Virus Transport Medium. (See also Virology Section, General Guidelines for Virus Isolation & Collection Methods for Virus Isolation by Sample Type)
Storage/Transport	Refrigerate samples until transport to laboratory. Do not freeze. Send samples on ice pack to laboratory.
Method	Tissue culture
Test Results	Reported as Positive or Negative
Turnaround Time	Positive report : 3 – 21 days For enterovirus – final report with enterovirus typing results : 2 – 6 weeks Negative report : 21 days
Day(s) Test Set up	Monday – Saturday
Remarks	Viruses to be expected: Influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (especially in infants and young children), parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, cytomegalovirus, enterovirus, varicella-zoster virus.

Change History Notes

29 Aug 2024 12:00 AM

SARS-CoV-2 is included in the panel test w.e.f. 2 September 2024.

Last Updated - 13 Jun 2025