title: Evaluation of a new, rapid, simple test for the detection of influenza virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influenza virus infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both pediatric and adult populations worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of influenza is necessary for appropriate patient management during the influenza season and for optimal utilization of anti-influenza therapy. We prospectively tested the accuracy of a simple and rapid diagnostic method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight samples (nasal and pharyngeal swabs) from patients with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms who presented to primary healthcare centres in Barcelona (Spain) were prospectively analyzed. The samples were collected as part of influenza surveillance program. Samples that had enough volume to make the new test after aliquoting the amount needed to perform routine tests were included. None of the samples were pre-selected as a result of their status in relation to influenza virus. Samples were analyzed by in-house real-time PCR and Alere i Influenza A & B (Alere i), which uses isothermal amplification of nucleic acids for the qualitative detection of influenza A and B in nasal swabs transported in viral transport media. The two techniques were compared by positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA). Statistical analysis was performed with Stata.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 98 samples analysed 90 were concordant; 46 (46.9%) were positive and 44 (44.9%) were negative. Five samples showed invalid results with the Alere i test and could be not re-tested due to insufficient sample volume and were not included in the final statistical analysis. In the 93 remaining samples, the Alere i test showed 97% of accuracy having correctly classified 90 samples. We obtained discordant results in 3 samples (3%). The PPA was 93.8% for influenza A and 94.1% for influenza B, and NPA was 100% for influenza A and influenza B virus. In addition, the Alere i was very rapid (15 minutes or less) and extremely easy to use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Alere i test provided a good correlation compared to the real-time PCR test for the diagnosis of influenza. Since this method can be performed in minutes, it allows immediate, accurate clinical decisions to prescribe appropriate antiviral treatment or isolation of patients.
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jhurtado@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Hurtado
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mdmosquera@clinic.ub.es.|Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. mdmosquera@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Maria Mar
authors: MM
authors: Mosquera
authors: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. elazzari@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: de Lazzari
authors: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. estebanm@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Esteban
authors: E
authors: Martínez
authors: Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain. nuria.torner@gencat.cat.|CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. nuria.torner@gencat.cat.
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Torner
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. risanta@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Ricard
authors: R
authors: Isanta
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. patriciademolina@gmail.com.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: de Molina
authors: Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain. tpumarola@vhebron.net.
authors: Tomás
authors: T
authors: Pumarola
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mmarcos@clinic.ub.es.|Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. mmarcos@clinic.ub.es.
authors: Maria Angeles
authors: MA
authors: Marcos
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Vila
authors: Jordi Vila
authors: JV
authors: Estape
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D009666:Nose / Q000821:virology; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
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