Comparison of two broadly multiplexed PCR systems for viral detection in clinical respiratory tract specimens from immunocompromised children

Abstract

Broadly multiplexed PCR is an effective means of detecting large numbers of clinically relevant respiratory viral pathogens.

Comparative Evaluation of Broad-Panel PCR Assays for the Detection of Gastrointestinal Pathogens in Pediatric Oncology Patients

“…10,11 Tests available for respiratory pathogens have worked well, albeit with some variation in performance characteristics among different assays. 7,11,12 Tests aimed at gastrointestinal pathogens have only recently become available, 13e15 although at least one publication has recently compared such systems, the included patients (although not specified) appeared to represent a general medical population. 14 The pediatric oncology population represents a unique demographic group with its own epidemiology, offering potentially different challenges to assay design and performance.…”

Distribution of respiratory viruses which cause lower respiratory tract infection in pediatric age group

“…Though the low sensitivities and specificities are reported between about 10%-75%, these multiplex RT-PCR kits have been widely used in diagnosis [2,3,5]. The low sensitivity rates of the kits have been frequently reported for H1N1-p, influenzae A, enterovirus, CoV (OC43), and RSV depending on the reference standards due to lack of careful optimization, low viral load, and the patient population of the study.…”

“…In addition, RT-PCR is easy to perform and require no experienced staff [3,5]. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the distribution of viral causes in children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Rize Training and Research Hospital between January 2014 and January 2015 with pre-diagnosis of RTI.…”

“…More than 80% of lower RTIs are caused by viruses such as rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs), adenoviruses, influenzae A and B, parainfluenzae viruses (PIVs) type I, II, III, and IV, coronaviruses (CoVs), and human metapneumoviruses (HMPVs) [1][2][3].…”

“…However, in recent years, development and common usage of new antiviral agents have couraged the determination of viruses in cases of RTIs. In addition, epidemiological researches increased the requirement of viral detection [2,3,5].…”