Xpert Flu for point-of-care diagnosis of human influenza in industrialized countries.
Respiratory infections, particularly those caused by influenza viruses, represent the third-most important cause of death in the world due to infectious diseases. Nevertheless, despite the enormous publicity attracted by epidemics due to these viruses, laboratory diagnosis, documentation and recording of respiratory diseases is still unsatisfactory. Available diagnostic tests capable of providing results rapidly are either limited and insufficiently sensitive or highly sensitive and specific but insufficiently rapid. Considerable investment and research efforts have been made towards the development of new diagnostics for influenza A and B viruses and the Xpert(®) Flu assay (Cepheid(®), CA, USA) has emerged as one of the most promising. In this article, we review current knowledge of the Xpert Flu test, discuss its potential value as a point-of-care test and outline the potential leads for future development.
Aix Marseille Université, IRD French Institute of Research for Development, EHESP French School of Public Health, EPV UMR_D 190 "Emergence des Pathologies Virales", and IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille 13385, Marseille, France.
Nicolas
N
Salez
Antoine
A
Nougairede
Laetitia
L
Ninove
Christine
C
Zandotti
Xavier
X
de Lamballerie
Rémi N
RN
Charrel
D019049:Developed Countries; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic