Contemporary Research Analysis Journal

Background: Seasonal influenza is a major cause of acute respiratory infections, with activity typically increasing during the colder months. Because influenza and other respiratory viruses cause similar symptoms, laboratory testing is essential for accurate pathogen identification and appropriate clinical management. Objective: To characterize the distribution and monthly patterns of laboratory-confirmed respiratory viruses from March 2025 to June 2026, and to place these findings in the context of two previous local studies. Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of 1,863 laboratory test records. As in the previous research, initial screening for respiratory antigens was followed by molecular confirmation of positive samples. Results: At least one virus was identified in 467 tests (25.1%): 463 cases tested positive for a single virus, and four cases involved more than one virus. Influenza A was the most frequently identified virus (207 cases), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (80), adenovirus (71), RSV (42), influenza B (38), hMPV (23), and parainfluenza virus (2). Conclusions: Influenza A was the most frequent virus among cases that tested positive for a single virus. Influenza A and RSV peaked during the winter, influenza B was identified primarily during the colder months, SARS-CoV-2 showed an increase during the summer and early autumn, while adenovirus was identified throughout the entire study period. Age-specific results demonstrated a marked concentration of several respiratory viruses among children aged 0–10 years. 

respiratory viruses, laboratory analysis, molecular testing, Albania

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