Prospective application of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for diagnosing influenza infections in respiratory samples from a children's hospital.
A prospective clinical evaluation of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RNA PCR) for detection of influenza viruses was carried out with specimens from 342 patients of a children's hospital in The Netherlands. The RNA PCR, carried out directly on the specimens without an organic extraction, showed a sensitivity and specificity which are superior to those of direct immunofluorescence and comparable to those of cell culture combined with immunofluorescence (culture/IF). Negative results can be obtained within 2 days by the RNA PCR but may take up to 14 days by culture/IF. Because culturing is the standard technique for the detection of respiratory viruses, at this moment there are no strong arguments to replace culture/IF with RNA PCR for the detection of influenza A virus.
Claas
E C
EC
Department of Virology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Milaan
A J
AJ
Sprenger
M J
MJ
Ruiten-Stuiver
M
M
Arron
G I
GI
Rothbarth
P H
PH
Masurel
N
N
D001483:Base Sequence; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012367:RNA, Viral