title: Direct Comparison of Alere i and cobas Liat Influenza A and B Tests for Rapid Detection of Influenza Virus Infection.
abstract: We compared two rapid, point-of care nucleic acid amplification tests for detection of influenza A and B viruses (Alere i [Alere] and cobas Liat [Roche Diagnostics]) with the influenza A and B virus test components of the FilmArray respiratory panel (BioFire Diagnostics) using 129 respiratory specimens collected in universal viral transport medium (80 influenza A virus and 16 influenza B virus positive) from both adult and pediatric patients. The sensitivities of the Alere test were 71.3% for influenza A virus and 93.3% for influenza B virus, with specificities of 100% for both viruses. The sensitivities and specificities of the Liat test were 100% for both influenza A and B viruses. The poor sensitivity of the Alere test for detection of influenza A virus was likely due to a study set that included many low-positive samples that were below its limit of detection.
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA nolte@musc.edu.
authors: Frederick S
authors: FS
authors: Nolte
authors: Division of Laboratory Services, Medical University of South Carolina Hospital Authority, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Gauld
authors: Division of Laboratory Services, Medical University of South Carolina Hospital Authority, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors: Susan B
authors: SB
authors: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult