title: Benefits and drawbacks of molecular techniques for diagnosis of viral respiratory infections. Experience with two multiplex PCR assays.
abstract: Molecular techniques have represented a major step forward in the diagnosis of viral respiratory infections. They are considered highly sensitive and specific compared to conventional techniques. In this study two nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) were compared to conventional methods (immunofluorescence and viral culture). The aim of this work was to discuss the clinical interpretation of the results obtained by NAATs on the basis of the two-decade experience of our group and the literature. Eighty nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children under six years attended for acute respiratory illness at the pediatric emergency room of a third level Hospital. Both NAATs tested (Seeplex(®) and Clart(®)) showed an overall higher performance regarding sensitivity (76% and 90%, respectively). Compared to Seeplex(®), the Clart(®) system tripled the number of multiple detections (8 by Seeplex(®) vs. 25 by Clart(®)). In some specimens both NAATs detected different viruses. Given these discrepancies and the fact that detection of viral nucleic acids is not necessarily related to the current clinical syndrome, the interpretation of molecular results may not always be so straightforward. The pros and cons of NAATs should always be taken into account when giving a result.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Arroyo
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prim
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Carme
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.|Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rabella
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: immunofluorescence; multiplex PCR; respiratory virus; viral isolation