title: Evaluation of BBL™ Sensi-Discs™ and FTA® cards as sampling devices for detection of rotavirus in stool samples.
abstract: Rotavirus is the most important cause of severe childhood gastroenteritis worldwide. Rotavirus vaccines are available and rotavirus surveillance is carried out to assess vaccination impact. In surveillance studies, stool samples are stored typically at 4°C or frozen to maintain sample quality. Uninterrupted cold storage is a problem in developing countries because of power interruptions. Cold-chain transportation of samples from collection sites to testing laboratories is costly. In this study, we evaluated the use of BBL™ Sensi-Discs™ and FTA(®) cards for storage and transportation of samples for virus isolation, EIA, and RT-PCR testing. Infectious rotavirus was recovered after 30 days of storage on Sensi-Discs™ at room temperature. We were able to genotype 98-99% of samples stored on Sensi-Discs™ and FTA(®) cards at temperatures ranging from -80°C to 37°C up to 180 days. A field sampling test using samples prepared and shipped from Cameroon, showed that both matrices yielded 100% genotyping success compared with whole stool and Sensi-Discs™ demonstrated 95% concordance with whole stool in EIA testing. The utilization of BBL™ Sensi-Discs™ and FTA(®) cards for stool sample storage and shipment has the potential to have great impact on global public health by facilitating surveillance and epidemiological investigations of rotavirus strains worldwide at a reduced cost.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA.
authors.forename: Ka Ian
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA.
authors.forename: Mathew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Esona
authors.affiliation: Furman University, Greenville, SC USA.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Mother and Child Center, Chantal Biya Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Valantine N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Ndze
authors.affiliation: The Mother and Child Center, Chantal Biya Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Angeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boula
authors.affiliation: Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Viruses Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA. Electronic address: mkb6@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Ambient; Enzyme immunoassay; Genotyping; Rotavirus; Shipment; Stool; Storage; Virus isolation