title: Feasibility of Xpert Ebola Assay in Médecins Sans Frontières Ebola Program, Guinea.
abstract: Rapid diagnostic methods are essential in control of Ebola outbreaks and lead to timely isolation of cases and improved epidemiologic surveillance. Diagnosis during Ebola outbreaks in West Africa has relied on PCR performed in laboratories outside this region. Because time between sampling and PCR results can be considerable, we assessed the feasibility and added value of using the Xpert Ebola Assay in an Ebola control program in Guinea. A total of 218 samples were collected during diagnosis, treatment, and convalescence of patients. Median time for obtaining results was reduced from 334 min to 165 min. Twenty-six samples were positive for Ebola virus. Xpert cycle thresholds were consistently lower, and 8 (31%) samples were negative by routine PCR. Several logistic and safety issues were identified. We suggest that implementation of the Xpert Ebola Assay under programmatic conditions is feasible and represents a major advance in diagnosis of Ebola virus disease without apparent loss of assay sensitivity.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaillet
authors.forename: Mamadou Saliou
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amand
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Vyve
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jonckheere
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crestani
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Herp
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piriou
authors.forename: Lamine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koivogui
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antierens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016701:Guinea; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Ebola; Ebola virus; Ebola virus disease; Guinea; Médecins Sans Frontières; PCR; Xpert Ebola Assay; diagnosis; diagnostic techniques; outbreak; viruses
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