This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Paton, A W Articles by Harris, R J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Paton, A W Articles by Harris, R J

Rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Microbiology Department, Adelaide Children's Hospital, South Australia.

ABSTRACT

A rapid method for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal aspirates, involving a combination of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification (RT-PCR), has been developed. The RT-PCR assay employs oligonucleotide primers specific for the region of the RSV genome which encodes the F1 subunit of the fusion (F) glycoprotein. Other respiratory viruses do not give a positive reaction. The RT-PCR assay was tested on 202 nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from children with clinical signs of respiratory infection, and the results from RT-PCR were compared with those obtained from virus culture and direct detection by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RT-PCR results were positive in 118 of 125 samples from which RSV was cultured, as well as in 4 of 7 samples which were culture negative but EIA positive. RT-PCR results were negative in 68 of 70 culture-negative, EIA-negative samples, which included 11 samples from which other respiratory viruses were isolated. The speed, sensitivity (94.6%), and specificity (greater than 97%) of the RT-PCR assay suggest that this technique could be useful for rapid detection of RSV in clinical samples.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Goodrich, J. S., Miller, M. B. (2007). Comparison of Cepheid's Analyte-Specific Reagents with BD Directigen for Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. J. Clin. Microbiol. 45: 604-606 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mentel, R., Wegner, U., Bruns, R., Gurtler, L. (2003). Real-time PCR to improve the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Med Microbiol 52: 893-896 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Erdman, D. D., Weinberg, G. A., Edwards, K. M., Walker, F. J., Anderson, B. C., Winter, J., Gonzalez, M., Anderson, L. J. (2003). GeneScan Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay for Detection of Six Common Respiratory Viruses in Young Children Hospitalized with Acute Respiratory Illness. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 4298-4303 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Borg, I., Rohde, G., Loseke, S., Bittscheidt, J., Schultze-Werninghaus, G., Stephan, V., Bufe, A. (2003). Evaluation of a quantitative real-time PCR for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus in pulmonary diseases. Eur Respir J 21: 944-951 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rajala, M. S., Sullender, W. M., Prasad, A. K., Dar, L., Broor, S. (2003). Genetic Variability among Group A and B Respiratory Syncytial Virus Isolates from a Large Referral Hospital in New Delhi, India. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 2311-2316 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hu, A., Colella, M., Tam, J. S., Rappaport, R., Cheng, S.-M. (2003). Simultaneous Detection, Subgrouping, and Quantitation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus A and B by Real-Time PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 149-154 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Gilmore, X., Xu, K., Wyde, P. R., Mbawuike, I. N. (2002). An Aged Mouse Model for RSV Infection and Diminished CD8+ CTL Responses. Exp. Biol. Med. 227: 133-140 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Liolios, L., Jenney, A., Spelman, D., Kotsimbos, T., Catton, M., Wesselingh, S. (2001). Comparison of a Multiplex Reverse Transcription-PCR-Enzyme Hybridization Assay with Conventional Viral Culture and Immunofluorescence Techniques for the Detection of Seven Viral Respiratory Pathogens. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 2779-2783 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Masot, A. J., Kelling, C. L., Lopez, O., Sur, J. H., Redondo, E. (2000). In Situ Hybridization Detection of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the Lung of Experimentally Infected Lambs. Vet Pathol 37: 618-625 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Valarcher, J.-F., Bourhy, H., Gelfi, J., Schelcher, F. (1999). Evaluation of a Nested Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay Based on the Nucleoprotein Gene for Diagnosis of Spontaneous and Experimental Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 1858-1862 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akhtar, N., Ni, J., Stromberg, D., Rosenthal, G. L., Bowles, N. E., Towbin, J. A. (1999). Tracheal Aspirate as a Substrate for Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Viral Genome in Childhood Pneumonia and Myocarditis. Circulation 99: 2011-2018 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gröndahl, B., Puppe, W., Hoppe, A., Kühne, I., Weigl, J. A. I., Schmitt, H.-J. (1999). Rapid Identification of Nine Microorganisms Causing Acute Respiratory Tract Infections by Single-Tube Multiplex Reverse Transcription-PCR: Feasibility Study. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 1-7 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Osiowy, C. (1998). Direct Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, and Adenovirus in Clinical Respiratory Specimens by a Multiplex Reverse Transcription-PCR Assay. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 3149-3154 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pitkaranta, A., Virolainen, A., Jero, J., Arruda, E., Hayden, F. G. (1998). Detection of Rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and Coronavirus Infections in Acute Otitis Media by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction. Pediatrics 102: 291-295 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Eugene-Ruellan, G., Freymuth, F., Bahloul, C., Badrane, H., Vabret, A., Tordo, N. (1998). Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus A and B and Parainfluenzavirus 3 Sequences in Respiratory Tracts of Infants by a Single PCR with Primers Targeted to the L-Polymerase Gene and Differential Hybridization. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 796-801 [Abstract] [Full Text]