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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2001, p. 3135-3139, Vol. 39, No. 9
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.9.3135-3139.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Reliable Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Children for Adequate Hospital Infection Control Management

Susanne Abels,1,2 David Nadal,2 Angelika Stroehle,1 and Walter Bossart1,*

Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich,1 and Department of Infectious Diseases, University Children's Hospital,2 Zurich, Switzerland

Received 16 January 2001/Returned for modification 10 May 2001/Accepted 11 July 2001

By using a rapid test for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detection (Abbott TestPack RSV), a number of patients were observed, showing repeatedly positive results over a period of up to 10 weeks. A prospective study was initiated to compare the rapid test with an antigen capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and a nested reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) protocol for detection of RSV serotypes A and B. Only respiratory samples from children exhibiting the prolonged presence of RSV (>= 5 days) as determined by the rapid test were considered. A total of 134 specimens from 24 children was investigated by antigen capture EIA and nested RT-PCR. Using RT-PCR as the reference method, we determined the RSV rapid test to have a specificity of 63% and a sensitivity of 66% and the antigen capture EIA to have a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 69% for acute-phase samples and the homologous virus serotype A. In 7 (29%) of 24 patients, the positive results of the RSV rapid test could not be confirmed by either nested RT-PCR or antigen capture EIA. In these seven patients a variety of other respiratory viruses were detected. For general screening the RSV rapid test was found to be a reasonable tool to get quick results. However, its lack of specificity in some patients requires confirmation by additional tests to rule out false-positive results and/or detection of other respiratory viruses.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Diagnostic Department, Gloriastrasse 30, CH-8028 Zurich, Switzerland. Phone: 41 1 634 26 59. Fax: 41 1 634 49 06. E-mail: bossart{at}immv.unizh.ch.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2001, p. 3135-3139, Vol. 39, No. 9
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.9.3135-3139.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.