title: Evaluation of assay systems for the detection of rotavirus in stool specimens.
abstract: We tested 41 rotavirus positive and 42 negative specimens as determined by electron microscopy. The assays systems used were an indirect NIH-ELISA, Meritec-Rotavirus, Virogen Rotatest, and Rotazyme II. Meritec and Virogen (latex agglutination assays) were the most sensitive tests, detecting 95% of the positive specimens. The NIH-ELISA detected 81% and Rotazyme detected 63%. Rotazyme was the most specific (100%), followed by the NIH-ELISA (95%) and the two latex agglutination systems (91%). To determine the level of rotavirus detection, we tested three systems against serial two-fold dilutions of ten positive stools. The NIH-ELISA detected rotavirus in an average dilution of 1:723. Rotazyme detected rotavirus in an average stool dilution of 1:366, and Meritec showed an average of 1:164. Rotavirus strains representing serotypes 1-4 were also tested. Meritec was able to detect all four serotypes. Virogen did not react with serotype 2 strains. The NIH-ELISA and rotazyme were unable to detect serotype 3. These data suggest that some latex agglutination assays may be a useful alternative to ELISAs in the clinical laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Program in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mathewson
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Winsor
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: DuPont
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Secor
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*