title: Comparison of three multiplex PCR assays for detection of respiratory viruses: Anyplex II RV16, AdvanSure RV, and Real-Q RV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to its great sensitivity, the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) is widely used for detection of respiratory viruses (RV). However, few reports have described a direct comparison between multiplex RT-PCR assays for RV. The objective of this study was to perform a direct comparison of three multiplex RT-PCR assays for the detection of respiratory viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 201 respiratory samples (161 nasopharyngeal swab samples and 40 sputum samples) were tested with three commercial RV assays: Seegene Anyplex II RV16 (AP), LG AdvanSure RV (AD), and Biosewoom Real-Q RV (RQ). The additional tests for the discrepant results were conducted by repeat RV assay or monoplex PCR coupled direct sequencing. Data analysis using percent agreement, kappa, and prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) values was performed for comparisons among the three RV assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 201 samples, AP, AD, and RQ detected 105 (52.2%), 99 (49.3%), and 95 (47.3%) positive cases respectively. The overall agreement, kappa, and PABAK values for the three assays ranged between 97%-98%, 0.76-0.86, and 0.93-0.96 respectively. The performance of the three assays was very similar, with 94%-100% agreement for all comparisons, each virus types. The additional testing of samples showed discrepant results demonstrating that AD assay had the highest rate of concordance with original results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that all multiplex assay would be suitable for the detection of for respiratory viruses in clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Gyu
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9915-9681
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Medical Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chae Seung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yunjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: In Bum
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: agreement; nucleic acid amplification test; respiratory virus