Comparison of the MChip to Viral Culture, Reverse Transcription-PCR, and the QuickVue Influenza A+B Test for Rapid Diagnosis of Influenza

Abstract

The performance of a diagnostic microarray (the MChip assay) for influenza was compared in a blind study to that of viral culture, reverse transcription (

Randomised controlled trial and health economic evaluation of the impact of diagnostic testing for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae infection on the management of acute admissions in the elderly and high-risk 18- to 64-year-olds

“…With PCR as the gold standard, viral culture carried out at the UHL NHS Trust laboratory had a sensitivity of just 21.6% (95% CI 13.5% to 31.6%), which, although similar to the sensitivity reported by the Portuguese national surveillance network, during the 7-year period 1992-93 to 1998-99, 146 is suboptimal in comparison with sensitivities of 61-96% reported in nine studies 90,91,[147][148][149][150][151][152][153] (Table 24) that were identified for the systematic review and meta-analysis of POCTs for influenza (see Chapter 6). However, the sensitivity of viral culture was similar to that of the Quidel POCT (24.4%, 95% CI 16% to 34.6%).…”

Impact of Microarray Technology in Influenza Virus Research and Diagnostics

“…For this low-density oligonucleotide microarrays containing limited number of highly multiplexed unique conserved genome "signatures" sequences as probes are used [9][10][11][12][13]. These microarrays are used to detect both influenza A and B viruses as well as various subtypes of influenza A viruses on the basis of three gene targets the HA, NA and M (Matrix) gene segments [6,10,14,15]. Numerous short DNA capture sequences were designed and used to both identify and subtype influenza A viruses on the basis of sequence similarity and differences.…”

Diagnosis of Influenza from Respiratory Autopsy Tissues

“…19,24,25 However, these assays have diverse ranges in sensitivity and specificity, depending on the nature of the sample and duration of illness. 6 Further, specimens sampled for testing are typically sputum, swabs of the throat, and nasopharyngeal aspirates, swabs, and washes.…”

“…Diagnostic assays for influenza infection are numerous and include, among others, culture and direct fluorescent antibody staining, 14 -17 conventional reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR), 14,15,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] microarrays, 5,15,16,19 and a large number of commercially available rapid diagnostic tests. 19,24,25 However, these assays have diverse ranges in sensitivity and specificity, depending on the nature of the sample and duration of illness.…”