Respiratory Virus Testing
Updated 3 Oct 2022
RSV is still present, mostly in young children.
Influenza has gone.
New cases of COVID-19 are uncommon now. Inpatient COVID numbers have fallen and are currently down to around 20. We try to identify the majority of cases as they come in, many of whom have COVID contributing to their overall condition.
Emergency Department patients with respiratory illness are now only routinely being tested for SARS-Cov-2, but under 5 year olds are also screened for RSV. Asymptomatic patients admitted from ED are all being screened for SARS-CoV-2 by a loop mediated amplification (LAMP) test, which compares well with PCR and is sensitive enough to detect historical cases from 2 or 3 months ago. RSV, Influenza and Adenovirus testing are available for any patient, on request.
Respiratory swabs received from the community (GPs) are tested for either SARS-CoV-2 alone or other viruses, as requested.
Dr Chris Mansell
Clinical Microbiologist
Latest laboratory specimen collection information can be found here
Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2022 Week 39
4 October 2022
RSV is still circulating. SARS-CoV-2 is stable at lower levels. Rhinoviruses are the third most prevalent group, followed by Metapneumovirus and the Adenoviruses.
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2022 Week 37
21 September 2022
RSV and Rhinovirus continue to circulate in the Waikato. Specimen test numbers are still high, because we are testing people with any respiratory symptoms at Emergency Department for RSV, Influenza...
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2022 Week 35
5 September 2022
The Winter season is drawing to a close, but RSV is still present.
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2022 Week 32
15 August 2022
Influenza A continues to fall away and RSV continues to climb gradually. There is a small amount of Rhino/Enterovirus around and some Coronavirus OC43.
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2022 Week 30
2 August 2022
We have seen one case of Influenza B. Meanwhile RSV continues to increase and Influenza A is at low levels and falling. Even Rhinoviruses are reduced.
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