Systems and methodologies are described that provide techniques for efficient cell search in a wireless communication system. In one aspect, a frequency reuse pattern can be generated by applying frequency shifts to reference signals transmitted from cells that provide coverage for a NodeB based on cell IDs or cell group IDs for the cells. The frequency shifts applied to reference signals can then be utilized as a basis for multiplexing reference signals from different cells using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) or a combination of FDM and other multiplexing techniques. Other adjustments to reference signals transmitted from respective cells, such as transmit power adjustments, can further be made to improve detection performance.