title: Performance of direct immunofluorescence assay for the detection of human metapneumovirus under clinical laboratory settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emergent human respiratory pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) to detect hMPV in a clinical laboratory setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples (448) of children and adults with respiratory illness were used to detect hMPV by using DIF and real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 36 (8%) samples were positive by DIF and 94 (21%) were positive by qRT-PCR. Direct immunofluorescence specificity was 99% and sensitivity was 38%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DIF is not very sensitive under clinical laboratory settings.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jonas Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas Biológicas, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Schäffer
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Gregianini
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas Biológicas, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudete Maria Farina
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Seadi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas Biológicas, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Luchiari
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Tumioto
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisas Biológicas, Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bibiana Paula
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Dambrós
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Kieling Moreira
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia De
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vagner Ricardo
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Lunge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity