title: Performance of the Alere i influenza A&B assay and mariPOC test for the rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Timely detection of influenza viruses is required to facilitate infection control measures and appropriate patient management. The Alere™ i Influenza A&B assay for detection of viral RNA and multianalyte mariPOC(®) test for detection of viral antigens enable rapid detection of influenza viruses with little hands-on time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance of the Alere i Influenza A&B assay and the mariPOC test in comparison to the Xpert(®) Flu A/B assay and laboratory-developed real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 140 and 108 nasopharyngeal specimens were analysed for evaluation of the Alere i and mariPOC, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of the Alere i Influenza A&B assay for detection of influenza A virus was 80.0% and 98.1%, and for influenza B virus 45.2% and 98.2%, respectively. For the mariPOC test, a sensitivity and specificity of 53.1% and 98.7%, respectively, for detection of influenza A virus was achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mariPOC test proved insensitive for detection of influenza A virus and therefore unsuitable for individual patient diagnosis without confirmatory testing. In contrast, the Alere i Influenza A&B assay was reasonably sensitive and specific for detection of influenza A and B virus, although decreased detection of specimens with low viral load was observed particularly for detection of influenza B virus. Taken together with its rapidity and ease of use, the Alere i influenza A&B assay is a welcome alternative to immunochromatographic rapid influenza detection tests and may provide timely results that enable appropriate patient care and management of patient flow during high-prevalence seasons.
authors: Laboratory Services (Satadiag), Satakunta Central Hospital, 28500 Pori, Finland; Department of Clinical Virology, Division of Microbiology and Genetics, Turku University Hospital, 20521 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: pia.jokela@helsinki.fi.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Jokela
authors: Department of Clinical Virology, Division of Microbiology and Genetics, Turku University Hospital, 20521 Turku, Finland; Department of Virology, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland.
authors: Tytti
authors: T
authors: Vuorinen
authors: Department of Clinical Virology, Division of Microbiology and Genetics, Turku University Hospital, 20521 Turku, Finland; Department of Virology, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland.
authors: Matti
authors: M
authors: Waris
authors: Laboratory Services (Satadiag), Satakunta Central Hospital, 28500 Pori, Finland.
authors: Raija
authors: R
authors: Manninen
mesh_terms: D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Alere i; Influenza; POC; Rapid antigen detection; Real-time RT-PCR; mariPOC