Evaluation of the Abbott TESTPACK RSV enzyme immunoassay for detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal swab specimens

Abstract

North Chicago, 111.), a rapid (20-min) enzyme immunoassay, was compared with culture and direct immunofluorescence (DFA) of nasopharyngeal cells for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens, collected from 234 infants, were placed in viral transport medium. Portions of specimen in transport medium were used for each test. Of 234 specimens, 70 (30%) were culture positive, 103 (44%) were DFA positive, 107 (46%) were culture or DFA positive, and 112 (48%) were TESTPACK RSV positive. Of 19 specimens positive by TESTPACK RSV but negative by culture or DFA, 15 were positive by the blocking assay. A total of 122 specimens were culture, DFA, or blocking assay positive; TESTPACK RSV detected 108 specimens (sensitivity, 89%). The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of TESTPACK RSV as compared with those of culture, DFA, and the blocking assay were 96, 96, and 89%, respectively. By comparison, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of combined culture and DFA were 88, 100, 100, and 88%, respectively. TESTPACK RSV is a rapid and reliable enzyme immunoassay for the direct detection of RSV antigen in nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

Rapid and Sensitive Method Using Multiplex Real-Time PCR for Diagnosis of Infections by Influenza A and Influenza B Viruses, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and Parainfluenza Viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4

“…Conventional respiratory viral cell culture is limited by a lack of speed and therefore has little impact on patient care (1,27). Rapid immunological tests partly overcome this problem, but the low sensitivity requires cell culture to be performed on negative specimens (6,14,17,18). Using automated nucleic acid extraction procedures and real-time PCR, 32 samples can be processed in 6 h with 1 h of hands-on time.…”

“…However, it is not a rapid diagnostic test, and therefore, its clinical value is limited. Rapid antigen detection tests are now widely used in routine laboratories, but these have been shown to be less sensitive and specific (6,17,18). PCR is found to be more sensitive, specific, and rapid for detection of respiratory viruses (14,15,22,23,24).…”

Mixed viral infections: detection and management.

“…EIA tests for most viruses, however, can be constructed in the laboratory, and comprehensive panels may be assembled. The general experience suggests that to account for their variable sensitivities and specificities EIA tests should be supported by virus isolation in cell cultures and/or DIF (36,37,49,74,94,95,97,107).…”

Epidemiology of viral respiratory infections in children undergoing heart surgery

“…Simsic et al adopted preoperative testing for respiratory virus by PCR before cardiac surgery for all patients with single-ventricle and, if the test is positive, surgery is rescheduled for 6 weeks, pending a negative follow-up viral PCR [15]. There are some rapid tests for VRI in the market, like the Abbott TESTPACK RSV (Abbott Diagnostics, Santa Clara, CA), the QuickVue RSV Test (Quidel Corp., San Diego, CA) or the RAMP® RSV TEST (Response Biomedical Corp., Vancouver, Canada), which are rapid enzyme immunoassay for the direct detection of RSV antigen in nasopharyngeal swab specimens [16]. The clinical value of these rapid tests in children with CHD is unknown.…”