A reverse passive haemagglutination test for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasal secretions from infants.

A reverse passive haemagglutination (RPH) test has developed for the detection of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in nasal secretions, taken from infants with acute respiratory illness. In the final form of the procedure, RS virus was detected in 24 of 25 samples positive for RS virus by tissue culture and/or fluorescence antibody staining and in two samples negative for RS virus by these techniques. The simplicity of the technique and the rapidity with which it may be performed together with its apparently high degree of sensitivity should make RPH useful in the rapid diagnosis of RS virus.