Comparison of the BD Directigen Flu A+B Kit and the Abbott TestPack RSV with a multiplex RT-PCR ELISA for rapid detection of influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2005 Oct;11(10):848-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2005.01223.x.

Abstract

The Directigen Flu A+B enzyme immunoassay and the Abbott TestPack RSV enzyme immunoassay were each compared with a multiplex RT-PCR ELISA by testing 635 nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from children aged < 16 years who had been hospitalised with acute respiratory tract infection during the epidemic season 2002-2003. In this study, the sensitivity of the Directigen Flu A+B assay was unacceptably low (29.3% and 10.0%, respectively) for the detection of influenza A and B viruses. The sensitivity of the Abbott TestPack RSV assay (77.4%) was acceptable and in agreement with the multiplex RT-PCR ELISA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Nasopharynx / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic