title: Strategy for efficient detection of respiratory viruses in pediatric clinical specimens.
abstract: Direct immunofluorescence (IF) with a polyclonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific antibody preparation was used for antigen detection during the 1982-1983 RSV season (155 specimens) and gave an overall sensitivity of 94% with 87% specificity compared with viral culture. Indirect IF was used in the 1983-1984 season (265 specimens) and exhibited sensitivity of 96% with specificity of 79%. During these two seasons, 42 of 224 (18.8%) specimens that were IF-negative for RSV grew viruses other than RSV. In the winter of 1984-1985, we screened 297 specimens for RSV by IF and 80 (27%) were positive. Forty-four (20%) of the IF-negative specimens were culture-positive for RSV(2) or other viruses(44). We conclude that, in the interest of cost reduction and expeditious detection of respiratory viruses, once a properly equipped laboratory has become thoroughly familiar with IF techniques, pediatric respiratory specimens can be screened for RSV by IF and only the IF-negative specimens need be inoculated into cell cultures for isolation of virus during the winter respiratory season.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral