A comparison of Thermo Electron RSV OIA to viral culture and direct fluorescent assay testing for respiratory syncytial virus.
BACKGROUND
Rapid diagnostic methods for respiratory syncytial virus are useful tools available for the clinician.


OBJECTIVE
The Thermo Electron RSV OIA (optical immunoassay kit) was prospectively compared with direct immunofluorescent assay and viral culture at Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.


METHODS
Specimens from three hundred and thirty patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms were collected for testing by the three methods above. Several specimens were positive by both OIA and DFA with a negative culture result. These culture results were verified by RT-PCR analysis.


RESULTS
Overall, 107 specimens were positive for RSV by the reference tests (culture or RT-PCR). DFA analysis identified an additional 40 patient specimens positive for other respiratory viruses. Compared to the reference tests the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the OIA for detection of RSV were 87.9%, 99.6%, 98.9% and 94.5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid OIA assay format proved to be cost effective, and simple to use in comparison to DFA and viral culture. Negative rapid test results should still be confirmed with a secondary test.
Aldous
Wade K
WK
ARUP Laboratories, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Gerber
Kris
K
Taggart
Edward W
EW
Rupp
Jason
J
Wintch
Juliann
J
Daly
Judy A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014776:Virus Cultivation
D012367:RNA, Viral