title: Contribution of a rapid influenza diagnostic test to manage hospitalized patients with suspected influenza.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performances of the Alere i influenza A&B test and to appraise its contribution to patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 267 samples were tested. Influenza A and B PCR was performed as the reference. For each positive result, the supervising physician was contacted to collect data regarding patient management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall sensitivity and specificity of the Alere i were 91.4% and 97.6% for influenza A and 54.5% and 98.8% for influenza B, respectively. More specifically, when used in the emergency room (ER), the test helped avoid 10.7% of hospitalizations, 46.4% of antibiotic prescriptions and 42.9% of additional investigations for positive patients. The test was also helpful in instituting the prescription of oseltamivir and patient isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alere i influenza A&B is a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic test for influenza A. Sensitivity for influenza B was poor. Its usefulness was more important when patients were still in the ER.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Iris-Lab, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: laurent_busson@stpierre-bru.be.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Busson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Iris-Lab, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bhavna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahadeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Iris-Lab, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Foor
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Iris-Lab, Brussels, Belgium; Infectious Diseases Epidemiological Unit, Public Health School, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vandenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Iris-Lab, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D053139:Oseltamivir
keywords: Alere i; Clinical contribution; Diagnosis; Influenza; Sofia