What does a positive respiratory adenovirus test mean?

Positive respiratory adenovirus usually indicates an adenoviral infection in the respiratory tract.

Adenoviruses are contagious and primarily spread through respiratory droplets, the digestive tract, or direct contact. When the respiratory tract is infected with adenovirus, symptoms such as cough, sputum production, pharyngeal congestion, sore throat, and fever may occur. In such cases, specific nucleic acid tests for adenovirus and detection of serum-specific antibodies typically yield positive results for respiratory adenovirus.

Adenovirus infection is a self-limiting disease. Most patients recover spontaneously without treatment. Even symptomatic cases can be effectively treated and cured, and after recovery, individuals usually acquire a period of type-specific immunity.