Impact of Rapid Viral Testing on Patient Flow and Length of Stay in a Tertiary Pediatric Emergency Department

BACKGROUND: Overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs), particularly pediatric emergency departments (PEDs), remains a significant challenge that affects patient outcomes and the efficiency of healthcare. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for respiratory viruses could be a promising tool for improving patient management by enabling prompt etiological diagnoses. This study investigated whether positive RDT results for influenza or adenovirus were associated with differences in length of stay (LOS) in a tertiary PED during epidemic seasons. METHODS: -value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: < 0.001), which was consistent in both the influenza and adenovirus subgroups. No significant difference in 72 h readmission rates was observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among children tested with RDTs for influenza and adenovirus, positive results were associated with reduced PED LOS without increasing early return visits. While these findings suggest a potential role in supporting patient flow, conclusions regarding the broader impact on PED overcrowding should be drawn with caution. Further prospective studies, including non-tested controls and additional viral targets, are required.