Houston RSV Testing | Respiratory Syncytial Virus PCR Lab

RSV Testing for Houston, Texas healthcare providers. CLIA certified, 24-48 hours turnaround. Medicare and Medicaid accepted.

CLIA Certified
HIPAA Compliant
24-48hr Results
Medicare/Medicaid

About Our RSV Testing in Houston

NuWav Laboratories provides Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) RT-PCR testing for pediatric clinics, adult primary care, and skilled nursing facilities serving Houston, Texas. RSV is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infants under 12 months and adults over 65, and PCR confirmation supports both treatment decisions and infection control protocols.

Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, with over 60 institutions and a workforce of more than 120,000 — driving substantial demand for outsourced reference laboratory testing.

Real-time RT-PCR detection of RSV-A and RSV-B nucleic acids. Specimens accepted: nasopharyngeal swab, anterior nares swab, oropharyngeal swab, and nasopharyngeal aspirate. Internal RNase P control on every run.

Why Houston Healthcare Providers Choose NuWav

RSV-A and RSV-B Detection

Real-time RT-PCR detects both RSV subtypes in a single workflow, supporting clinical decisions for high-risk infants and elderly patients.

Pediatric-Friendly Specimens

Anterior nares and nasopharyngeal aspirate options reduce procedural distress for infants and toddlers in pediatric settings.

CLIA Certified Quality

Every RSV result is generated under CLIA #45D2306629 with full quality control documentation available on request.

Houston RSV Testing Service Area

Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, with over 60 institutions and a workforce of more than 120,000 — driving substantial demand for outsourced reference laboratory testing.

Neighborhoods Served

  • Downtown
  • Midtown
  • Montrose
  • The Heights
  • Memorial
  • River Oaks
  • Museum District
  • Rice Village

ZIP Codes Served

  • 77002
  • 77003
  • 77004
  • 77005
  • 77006
  • 77007
  • 77008
  • 77019
  • 77024
  • 77056

Local Healthcare Partners Near Houston

NuWav serves the Houston healthcare community, supporting providers affiliated with leading regional health systems in Harris County.

Houston Methodist

Memorial Hermann Health System

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas Children's Hospital

Harris Health System

NuWav Laboratories is an independent CLIA certified clinical laboratory. Mention of regional health systems indicates the geographic service area; no endorsement or affiliation is implied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions from healthcare providers about NuWav testing services.

Why test for RSV with PCR instead of relying on clinical symptoms?
RSV symptoms overlap significantly with influenza, COVID-19, and rhinovirus, and clinical diagnosis alone misses up to 30% of confirmed cases. PCR provides definitive identification, which is critical for infection control in pediatric units and skilled nursing facilities serving Houston.
Does NuWav's RSV test detect both RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes?
Yes. Our real-time RT-PCR assay detects both RSV-A and RSV-B nucleic acids in a single workflow, with subtype identification included on the result report when clinically relevant.
How long do RSV PCR results take?
RSV PCR results are returned in 24–48 hours from specimen receipt at our Carrollton, TX lab. Overnight courier service from our Carrollton lab serving Houston-area clinics with next-business-day specimen receipt, supporting timely clinical decisions for high-risk infants and elderly patients in Houston.
What's the best specimen type for RSV testing in infants?
For infants and toddlers, anterior nares swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates provide excellent RSV PCR sensitivity while minimizing procedural distress. NuWav also accepts standard nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs in viral transport media.
Is RSV testing covered by Medicare and Medicaid?
Yes. Medically necessary RSV PCR testing is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans. NuWav bills insurance directly and offers self-pay pricing for uninsured patients.
Can skilled nursing facilities in Houston use NuWav for RSV outbreak workups?
Yes. NuWav supports skilled nursing facilities throughout Houston, Texas with batch RSV PCR testing for suspected outbreak investigations, including same-day result reporting when specimens are received before our morning batch cutoff. Call 972-327-8857 to coordinate.
Should we test for RSV alongside flu and COVID?
During respiratory virus season the CDC and most pediatric guidelines recommend testing for all three pathogens when symptoms warrant testing, since clinical presentation overlaps substantially. NuWav can run COVID-19, Influenza A/B, and RSV PCR from a single nasopharyngeal swab.

Partner With NuWav for Houston RSV Testing

Contact us today to set up rsv testing for your Houston, TX practice. Specimen logistics, EMR integration, and reimbursement support included.

Medically reviewed by

NuWav Laboratories Medical Director

Laboratory Director · CLIA Director #45D2306629

Last reviewed: