title: Parent-collected respiratory specimens--a novel method for respiratory virus and vaccine efficacy research.
abstract: Population-based respiratory research and vaccine efficacy studies have previously required clinic or home visits when a subject had an acute respiratory illness. This method may mean parents are unwilling to enroll their child or report an illness of interest. We conducted a community-based cohort study into respiratory illnesses in 234 pre-school aged children using parent-collected specimens. Between January 2003 and January 2004 there were 563 specimens collected from 730 identified illnesses and these were tested using a panel of respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays; 409 (73%) were positive for any virus. Specimens were not more likely to be positive when collected by a healthcare worker parent, when they included a throat swab, or when a very good collection technique was reported. A delay from illness onset to specimen collection of up to 5 days did not appear to impact on sensitivity of virus identification, but a delay of six or more days with minor delays in testing saw positivity fall. Combined with daily symptom diary completion and PCR testing, parent-collected specimens are an efficient and acceptable method for the conduct of future vaccine efficacy studies and other community-based respiratory virus research.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. sblambert@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Terence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*