title: Antigen detection in the diagnosis of viral infections.
abstract: The value of viral antigen detection from nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in everyday clinical practice was evaluated in 570 children hospitalized because of infections. NPS-EIA gave a positive result in 32% of all cases. Virus isolation was positive in the NPS in 25%, virus isolation in stool samples in 14%, and virus serology in 28% of the cases. NPS-EIA was superior for detecting adenovirus, respiratory syncytial (RS) and parainfluenza viruses. In a series of 124 patients in whom 3 methods were compared, NPS-EIA was the only positive method in 48% of all findings positive for adenoviruses, in 73% for RSV, and in 58% for parainfluenza viruses. Antigen detection by NPS-EIA markedly increased the diagnostic potential in everyday clinical practice, especially for viral respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hietala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tuokko
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000175:diagnosis; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral