Respiratory virus unit (RVU): diagnostic services
RVU provides laboratory services for respiratory virus infections including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Services available
Respiratory virus unit (RVU) provides:
- antigenic and genetic characterisation of influenza isolates
- diagnostic and confirmatory PCR, virus isolation and serology
- investigation of outbreaks of respiratory virus infection
- genetic characterisation of respiratory viruses
- antiviral susceptibility testing of influenza viruses
RVU includes the UK World Health Organization (WHO) National Influenza Laboratory, and is a WHO RSV Reference Laboratory and a MERS-CoV Reference Laboratory and is involved in the development of diagnostic tests and vaccine evaluations.
RVU guidance and forms
- WN-CoV laboratory request form (E28)
- Referring influenza samples to respiratory virus unit at UKHSA Colindale
- Influenza serology request form (E2)
- Typing of influenza strains request form (E3)
- Respiratory adenovirus typing request form (E27)
- VRD manual
- Request form for typing of respiratory syncytial virus (E68)
Contact RVU
Respiratory virus unit (RVU)
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Telephone 020 8327 6017
DX address UKHSA Colindale VRD, DX 6530006
Last updated 6 November 2023 + show all updates
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Added E68 request form for typing of respiratory syncytial virus.
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Added link to WN-CoV laboratory request form (E28).
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Updated the services available from the respiratory virus unit (RVU).
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Added guidance about referring flu sample to RVU.
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First published.