Respiratory Virus Testing
Updated 9 Dec 2022
RSV is still present in low numbers, mostly in young children.
Influenza is not circulating, but we are seeing occasional cases come in with travellers from the Northern Hemisphere.
New cases of COVID-19 are still occuring. Inpatient COVID numbers are steady at about 20 most days. 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 2020 Week 40
08 10 2020
Specimen numbers for routine testing continue to decline. 1901 samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 over the week ended Sunday 4 October and there were no positives from the Waikato community.
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Waikato Respiratory Virus 2020 Week 39
29 09 2020
Influenza and RSV seem unlikely to cause seasonal epidemics this year.
Rhinoviruses have reappeared after an absence during the recent COVID-19 oriented level 2 precautions.
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2020 Week 37
16 09 2020
Specimen numbers for routine testing continue to fall, suggesting that seasonal respiratory viral illness is heading towards low, summer levels. Waikato respiratory virus report 2020 09 16
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Waikato Respiratory Virus Report 2020 Week 36
09 09 2020
Testing has quietened down after the recent COVID-19 cases in Tokoroa and we still have no Influenza or RSV. Waikato respiratory virus report 2020 09 09
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Waikato Respiratory Report - Week 34
25 08 2020
SARS-CoV-2 testing has been very active in the Waikato over the past 2 weeks, after a new cluster was found in Auckland and some cases had already travelled to the Waikato.
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