title: Diagnosis of 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) and seasonal influenza using rapid influenza antigen tests, San Antonio, Texas, April-June 2009.
abstract: Clinicians frequently use influenza rapid antigen tests for diagnostic testing. We tested nasal wash samples from 1 April to 7 June 2009 from 1538 patients using the QuickVue Influenza A+B (Quidel) rapid influenza antigen test and compared the results with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay (gold standard). The prevalence of 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) was 1.98%, seasonal influenza type A .87%, and seasonal influenza type B 2.07%. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid test for pH1N1 was 20% (95% CI, 8-39) and 99% (95% CI, 98-99), for seasonal influenza type A 15% (95% CI, 2-45) and 99% (95% CI, 98-99), and for influenza type B was 31% (95% CI, 9-61) and 99% (95% CI, 98-99.7). Rapid influenza antigen tests were of limited use at a time when the prevalence of pH1N1 and seasonal influenza in the United States was low. Clinicians should instead rely on clinical impression and laboratory diagnosis by rRT-PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Defense Global Laboratory-based Influenza Surveillance Program, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City-Base, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Pauline M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Oliver W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Alicia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Genny M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Maupin
authors.forename: Jenny L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Canas
authors.forename: Vincent P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Sonja J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: MacIntosh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013781:Texas; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral