Disposable Autonomous Device for Swab-to-Result Diagnosis of Influenza

Anal Chem. 2017 Jun 6;89(11):5776-5783. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04801. Epub 2017 May 8.

Abstract

A prototype of a self-contained, automated, disposable device for chemically amplified protein-based detection of influenza virus from nasal swab specimens was developed and evaluated in a clinical setting. The device required only simple specimen manipulation without any dedicated instrumentation or specialized training by the operator for interpretation. The device was based on a sandwich immunoassay for influenza virus nucleoprotein; it used an enzyme-labeled antibody and a chromogenic substrate to provide an amplified visible signal, in a two-dimensional paper network format. All reagents were stored within the device. Device performance was assessed at Seattle Children's Hospital; clinical staff collected nasal swab samples from 25 patients and then operated test devices on site to detect influenza A and B in those specimens. The total test time from device initiation to result was approximately 35 min. Device performance for influenza A detection was ∼70% accurate using in-house qRT-PCR influenza A as a gold-standard comparison. The ratio of valid to total completed device runs yielded a success rate of 92%, and the negative predictive value for both the influenza A and B assay was 81%. The ability to diagnose respiratory infections rapidly and close to the patient was well received by hospital staff, inspiring further optimization of device function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / instrumentation
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza B virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
  • Nucleoproteins / analysis
  • Specimen Handling / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Viral Proteins / analysis*

Substances

  • Nucleoproteins
  • Viral Proteins