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Antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus in blood
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Respiratory syncytial virus is classified as a paramyxovirus. Respiratory syncytial infection is characterized by predominant damage to the respiratory organs (bronchitis, pneumonia). Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important causative agent of respiratory diseases in young children and a common cause of lower respiratory tract pathology in newborns. The main method for diagnosing respiratory syncytial infection was previously the immunofluorescence method (detection of the virus in nasopharyngeal secretions). In recent years, a rapid (analysis time is 10 minutes) and easy-to-use immunochromatographic slide test has been developed to detect the virus in nasopharyngeal secretions, which has a sensitivity comparable to the immunofluorescence method (85.7%), but greater specificity (91.7%).
To detect antibodies to the respiratory syncytial virus, the CSC or ELISA is used.
In the case of RSC, the study is carried out at the onset of the disease and after 5-7 days; an increase in the antibody titer of at least 4 times when studying paired sera is considered diagnostically significant, but this research method is less sensitive in children under 4 months of age.
The ELISA method is more sensitive (70-100%). As with the RSC, for diagnostic purposes, ELISA requires a comparison of AT titers in serum samples obtained from patients at the beginning and end of the disease. Increased antibody titers in a single study may indicate a previous infection. Repeated infection is accompanied by an increase in antibody titers in a dynamic study.
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