Evaluation of immuview RSV antigen test (SSI siagnostica) and BinaxNOW RSV card (alere) for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in retrospectively and prospectively collected respiratory samples

Abstract

Human orthopneumovirus, formerly known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), is a frequent cause of hospitalization among infants due to respiratory tract infection. Fast, reliable, and easy to perform tests are needed to optimize treatment and to identify children that should be contact isolated to avoid nosocomial outbreaks. We prospectively tested 200 respiratory samples with a new assay (ImmuView RSV Antigen Test, SSI Diagnostica) and compared the results to the Alere BinaxNOW RSV Card by using our laboratory‐developed real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as reference. In addition, 300 retrospectively collected respiratory samples were included in the study. The sensitivities of both antigen kits were very low (<50%). Sensitivities were higher when samples came from children less than 6 years, when samples came from nasopharynx or lower respiratory airways, or when samples were positive for RSV serotype A compared to when samples came from adults, samples were throat swabs, or samples were positive for RSV serotype B. In conclusion, the ImmuView RSV antigen kit did not perform well and may at the most be used as a quick guidance for clinical decision. Thus, it cannot stand alone without reverse transcription PCR confirmation of negative results.

Evaluation of a Rapid Antigen Test for the Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…However, they had decreased sensitivity (thought to be only 40%–60% in adults, with a range of 10%–80%). Besides, in studies of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 9 , 10 the sensitivity of rapid antigen test for RSV was from 12% to 65%, which was less than that of COVID-19 in our study. Therefore, there is no reason to deny the use of RAD for SARS-CoV-2 screening.…”

Evaluation of the ImmuView RSV Test for Rapid Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Adult Patients with Influenza-Like Symptoms

“…Also, the high number of included patients without RSV etiology was probably a consequence of the long inclusion period in this study, resulting in low RSV rates overall. Still, the influenza season was defined according to European surveillance systems ( 23 ) and the frequency is comparable with that found in other evaluation studies on rapid RSV testing in adults ( 11 , 20 ). Another limitation is the low number of included children’s samples ( n = 10) for comparison of test performances.…”

“…In a meta-analysis by Chartrand et al, the pooled sensitivity of rapid RSV antigen testing was 29% in adults in comparison with 81% in children, suggesting that testing should be performed in young children only ( 10 ). In comparison, when Franck et al recently evaluated the ImmuView RSV test on retrospectively and prospectively collected samples, the sensitivity was only 12% in adults, while the sensitivity was 65% in children ( 11 ). Low sensitivity rates in adults may be explained by low viral loads ( 12 ), supported by findings of decreasing test sensitivity with increasing age ( 9 ).…”

“…RSV is temperature labile and needs to be stabilized to keep its infectivity during storage in vaccine development ( 16 ), but the impact of freeze-thaw cycles on antigen detection has not been studied to the best of our knowledge. According to manufacturers, eluted swabs can be held at 2 to 8°C for up to 48 h before testing (BinaxNOW) or there are no recommendations (ImmuView), but frozen samples have been used in previous evaluation studies of both tests ( 11 , 17 ). Accordingly, we observed no difference in sensitivity when testing was performed on frozen compared to unfrozen samples from two separate seasons.…”

Gold Nanourchins Improve Virus Targeting and Plasmonic Coupling for Virus Diagnosis on a Smartphone Platform

“…1 Among them, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of lung diseases among infants and young children under 5 years of age. 2 Currently available RSV detection methods include laboratory tests 3 (e.g., polymerase chain reaction and viral culture assays) and rapid antigen tests (e.g., lateral flow assay 4 and direct fluorescent antibody testing 5 ). While sensitive and specific, laboratory tests have a long turnaround time and are inaccessible in resource-limited settings.…”