title: Use of the Seeplex RV Detection kit for surveillance of respiratory viral outbreaks in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
abstract: The Seeplex RV Detection kit was used to identify specific respiratory viruses from specimens collected during respiratory outbreaks in the Greater Toronto Area from 1 September 2007 to 1 February 2008. Two hundred-thirty-one patient samples (nasopharyngeal swabs) were collected from 63 respiratory outbreaks. The distribution of outbreaks characterized by molecular means was: 30% (n=19) no identification; 52.5% (n=33) one pathogen; 14.5% (n=9) two pathogens; and 3% (n=2) three pathogens. In contrast, culture-based protocols identified pathogens in fewer outbreaks: 63 % (n=40) no identification; 35% (n=22) 1 pathogen; and 2% (n=1) 2 pathogens (p<0.05). Compared to virus isolation, molecular testing identified a greater proportion of positive specimens for rhinovirus: 22% (n=51/231) vs 5% (n=12/231) (p=0.01); and RSV A/B: 12% (n=27/231) vs 5% (n=11/231) (p<0.05). Superiority of the molecular assay to detect rhinovirus and RSV outbreaks compared to culture is evident from this study.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Laboratories Branch, 81 Resources Rd., Etobicoke, Ontario M9P 3T1, Canada. steven.drews@ontario.ca
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Drews
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lombos
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeLima
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzulli
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic