Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, conventional cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants.
A total of 316 samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate from infants up to two years of age with acute respiratory-tract illnesses were processed for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using three different techniques: viral isolation, direct immunofluorescence, and PCR. Of the samples, 36 (11.4%) were positive for RSV, considering the three techniques. PCR was the most sensitive technique, providing positive findings in 35/316 (11.1%) of the samples, followed by direct immunofluorescence (25/316, 7.9%) and viral isolation (20/315, 6.3%) (p < 0.001). A sample was positive by immunofluorescence and negative by PCR, and 11 (31.4%) were positive only by RT-PCR. We conclude that RT-PCR is more sensitive than IF and viral isolation to detect RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens in newborn and infants.
Reis
Alexanda Dias
AD
Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Fink
Maria Cristina Domingues
MC
Machado
Clarisse Martins
CM
Paz
José de Paula
Jde P
Oliveira
Renato Reis
RR
Tateno
Adriana Fumie
AF
Machado
Adriana Freire
AF
Cardoso
Maria Regina
MR
Pannuti
Claudio Sérgio
CS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral