Clinical performance of a rapid influenza test and comparison of nasal versus throat swabs to detect 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection in Thai children

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010 Apr;29(4):366-7. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181c6f05c.

Abstract

We identified febrile pediatric outpatients seeking care for influenza like illness in Bangkok. Two nasal and 1 throat swab were tested using the QuickVue A+B rapid influenza kit and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Among 142 pandemic influenza A (H1N1)-positive patients, the QuickVue test identified 89 positive tests for a sensitivity of 62.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 54.7-70.6). Specificity was 99.2% (95% CI: 98-100). In the 0 to 2 years age group, sensitivity was 76.7% (95% CI: 61.5-91.8). Throat and nasal swabs are equally useful diagnostic specimens for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / immunology
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Nose / virology*
  • Pharynx / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Specimen Handling / methods
  • Thailand
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • RNA, Viral
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic