Successful application of a simple specimen transport method for the conduct of respiratory virus surveillance in remote Indigenous communities in Australia

Abstract

Summaryobjective Surveillance programs and research for acute respiratory infections in remote Aboriginal communities are complicated by difficulties in the storage and transport of frozen samples to urban laboratories for testing. This study assessed the sensitivity of a simple method for transporting respiratory samples from a remote setting for viral PCR compared with frozen specimens.methods We sampled every individual who presented to a remote Aboriginal community clinic in a non-epidemic respiratory season. Two anterior nasal swabs were collected from each participant. The left nare specimen was mailed to the laboratory via routine postal services. The right nare specimen was transported frozen. Testing for 16 viruses was undertaken using real-time multiplex PCR.results A total of 140 participants were enrolled who contributed 150 study visits. Respiratory illnesses accounted for 10% of the reasons for presentation. Sixty-one viruses were identified in 50 (33.3%) presentations for 40 (28.6%) individuals; bocavirus and rhinovirus were the most common viruses identified (14.0% and 12.6% of episodes respectively). The sensitivity for any virus detected in mailed specimens was 67.2% (95%CI 55.4, 78.9) compared to 65.6% (95%CI 53.7, 77.5) for frozen specimens.conclusion The mailing of unfrozen nasal specimens from remote communities does not compromise the viability of the specimen for viral studies.

Mailed versus frozen transport of nasal swabs for surveillance of respiratory bacteria in remote Indigenous communities in Australia

“…Our study has demonstrated that freezing of specimens for viral studies at the time of collection is not required, [6] however the detection of common respiratory bacteria is affected, with lower detection rates in mailed specimens.…”

Upper airway viruses and bacteria in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Brisbane, Australia: a cross-sectional study

“…Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to test for adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) groups A and B, influenza virus types A and B, parainfluenza virus types 1–3, human metapneumovirus, human rhinoviruses, human coronaviruses (OC43, 229E,NL63 + HKU1), human bocavirus, human polyomaviruses KI and WU, M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, B. pertussis, S. pneumoniae , S. aureus, non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and M. catarrhalis using previous established methods [11, 12]. …”

Influenza vaccine efficacy in young children attending childcare: A randomised controlled trial

“…Parents mailed the swabs to the Queensland Paediatric Infectious Diseases Laboratory, where the swabs were immediately stored at −80°C until tested. Qualitative real‐time PCR was performed for Influenza A and B and other 13 respiratory viruses . This method is well established and short delays between swab collection and processing in the laboratory do not impact on the likelihood of identifying any/total respiratory virus(es) from nasal swabs …”