Antibodies to the respiratory syncytial virus in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Respiratory syncytial virus is classified as paramyxovirus. Respiratory syncytial infection is characterized by a primary lesion of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pneumonia). Respiratory syncytial virus is the most important causative agent of respiratory diseases in young children and a frequent cause of pathology of the lower respiratory tract in newborns. The main method of diagnosing respiratory syncytial infection was previously the method of immunofluorescence (detection of the virus in the nasopharyngeal discharge). In recent years, a rapid (analysis time of 10 min) and an easy-to-use immunochromatographic slide test for detecting a virus in a nasopharyngeal discharge have been developed, with a sensitivity comparable to the immunofluorescence method (85.7%) but more specific (91.7%).
To detect antibodies to the respiratory syncytial virus, DSC or ELISA is used.
In DSC, the study is carried out at the onset of the disease and after 5-7 days, it is diagnostically significant that the antibody titer increases by at least 4 times in the study of paired sera, but this test method is less sensitive in children under 4 months of age.
The ELISA method is more sensitive (70-100%). As with RSK, for use in the diagnostic purposes of ELISA, comparison of AT titers in serum samples obtained from patients at the beginning and at the end of the disease is necessary. Elevated values of antibody titers in a single study may indicate a previously transmitted infection. Repeated infection is accompanied by an increase in the antibody titer in the study in dynamics.
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