Prospective evaluation of a dot-blot enzyme immunoassay (Directigen RSV) for the antigenic detection of respiratory syncytial virus from nasopharyngeal aspirates of paediatric patients.
This study investigated the efficacy of a commercial enzyme immunoassay (Directigen RSV, ColorPAC) in comparison with the shell vial culture method (using Hep-2 cells) for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with bronchiolitis. During the period 1995-2002, 4950 samples were examined. RSV was detected in 1660 (33.5%) samples, with a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 97.5%, a positive predictive value of 93.8%, a negative predictive value of 91.6%, and a testing efficiency value of 92.2% compared with shell vial culture. In 83 (5%) samples, the ColorPAC was positive and the shell vial assay was negative. Of these, 71 (85.6%) were false-negative by cell culture. The true false-positive results obtained by ColorPAC represented only 0.7% of all RSV-positive samples. In general, no statistically significant differences were detected between the different months and epidemic periods studied. Compared with ColorPAC, the shell vial culture method displayed a sensitivity of 95.8% and a specificity of 100%. Overall, the ColorPAC assay was an acceptable, simple and rapid method for the antigenic detection of RSV in paediatric respiratory samples.
Reina
J
J
Virology Unit, Clinical Microbiology Service, University Hospital Son Dureta (Universitat Illes Balears), Palma de Mallorca, Spain. jreina@hsd.es
Gonzalez Gárdenas
M
M
Ruiz de Gopegui
E
E
Padilla
E
E
Ballesteros
F
F
Mari
M
M
Munar
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014776:Virus Cultivation
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic