title: Comparative study of nasopharyngeal aspirate and nasal swab specimens for diagnosis of acute viral respiratory infection.
abstract: Paired nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and nasal swab (NS) samples from 475 children hospitalized for acute respiratory infection were studied for the detection of influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus by immunofluorescence test, viral culture, and multiplex PCR assay. The overall sensitivity of viral detection with NPA specimens was higher than that obtained with NS specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. yntzsung@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Rita Y T
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kai C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Apple C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Albert M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Julian W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsen
authors.forename: E Anthony S
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014776:Virus Cultivation