Use of TaqMan Array card for the detection of respiratory viral pathogens in children under 5 years old hospitalised with acute medical illness in Ballabgarh, Haryana, India

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2019 Jan-Mar;37(1):105-108. doi: 10.4103/ijmm.IJMM_18_146.

Abstract

Historical specimens collected from hospitalized children were tested for the following 13 viruses: influenza A and B; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); parainfluenza viruses 1-3; human metapneumovirus; rhinovirus; coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 and Adenovirus using monoplex real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). They were retested using TaqMan Array Card (TAC), a micro-fluidic system, capable of simultaneous multi-pathogen testing, to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity against monoplex rRT-PCR. TAC showed high sensitivity (71%-100%) and specificity (98%-100%) for these viruses in comparison to monoplex rRT-PCR. Multi-specimen detection with high sensitivity and specificity makes TAC a potentially useful tool for both surveillance and outbreak investigations.

Keywords: Micro-fluidic card; sensitivity; specificity; viral pathogen diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • India
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viruses / isolation & purification