title: Comparison of the performance of the rapid antigen detection actim Influenza A&B test and RT-PCR in different respiratory specimens.
abstract: Nowadays, influenza antigen detection test kits are used most frequently to detect influenza A or B virus to establish the diagnosis of influenza rapidly and initiate appropriate therapy. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the actim Influenza A&B test (Medix Biochemica). Overall, 473 respiratory specimens were analysed in the actim Influenza A&B test and the results were compared with those from an RT-PCR assay; 461 of these samples originated from paediatric patients aged 7 weeks to 6.5 years either with influenza-related symptoms or from the intensive care unit, and 12 samples originated from adults with underlying lung or haematological diseases. Diagnosis of influenza A or B virus could be established using the actim Influenza A&B test (9/473 samples for influenza A virus and 6/473 for influenza B virus). RT-PCR revealed 23 patients with influenza virus (13/473 for influenza A virus and 10/473 for influenza B virus). The sensitivity and specificity of the actim Influenza A&B test were 65 and 100 % compared with the RT-PCR assay. However, 32 external quality assessment samples containing seven different strains of influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 and the avian H5N1 were detected correctly by the actim Influenza A&B test. No cross-reactivity to a range of bacterial, fungal and other viral pathogens was observed. In conclusion, the actim Influenza A&B test is reliable for positive results due to its high specificity. Nevertheless, negative results from this test need to be confirmed by a more sensitive assay because of the low sensitivity observed with diagnostic samples.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Magdeburg, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghebremedhin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Magdeburg, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: University Clinic Magdeburg, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003429:Cross Reactions; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral