title: Specimen collection and confirmation of norovirus outbreaks.
abstract: We evaluated data from gastroenteritis outbreaks in Oregon to assess sensitivity of stool testing for norovirus and determine number of specimens needed to confirm norovirus as the cause. Norovirus can be readily confirmed if 3-6 specimens are collected any time ≤7 days after onset of diarrhea and for almost that long after symptoms resolve.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, Oregon, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Plantenga
authors.forename: Beletshachew
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.forename: Christianne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: Ladonna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grenz
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cieslak
mesh_terms: D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data