Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. Early detection of RSV is critical to initiate proper care. Two methods, the direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-RT-PCR)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/781919 |
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| author | Caroline F. Shafik Emad W. Mohareb Fouad G. Youssef |
| author_facet | Caroline F. Shafik Emad W. Mohareb Fouad G. Youssef |
| author_sort | Caroline F. Shafik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. Early detection of RSV is critical to initiate proper care. Two methods, the direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-RT-PCR), that are used for RSV detection were compared. A total of 451 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children 5 years of age or less were tested for RSV using both methods. The overall prevalence rate of the RSV among the children was 23.7% with a significantly higher prevalence among children under the age of 6 months of age when compared to other age groups. The sensitivity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR was highest (86%) during the first 3 days of symptoms onset and decreased gradually till it reached 65% after the first week. The specificity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR ranged between 99 and 100% irrespective of the date of collection. We concluded that, although the rt-RT-PCR is more sensitive for RSV detection, the DFA offers a reliable point-of-care alternative detection method especially during the first few days of illness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8d5f350d99d4ec592b0c34b7fbb6ee8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1687-9686 1687-9694 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8d5f350d99d4ec592b0c34b7fbb6ee82025-08-20T02:20:57ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96861687-96942011-01-01201110.1155/2011/781919781919Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young ChildrenCaroline F. Shafik0Emad W. Mohareb1Fouad G. Youssef2Viral and Zoonotic Diseases Research Program, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo 11517, EgyptViral and Zoonotic Diseases Research Program, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo 11517, EgyptViral and Zoonotic Diseases Research Program, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Cairo 11517, EgyptRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. Early detection of RSV is critical to initiate proper care. Two methods, the direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and the real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-RT-PCR), that are used for RSV detection were compared. A total of 451 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children 5 years of age or less were tested for RSV using both methods. The overall prevalence rate of the RSV among the children was 23.7% with a significantly higher prevalence among children under the age of 6 months of age when compared to other age groups. The sensitivity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR was highest (86%) during the first 3 days of symptoms onset and decreased gradually till it reached 65% after the first week. The specificity of DFA in comparison to rt-RT-PCR ranged between 99 and 100% irrespective of the date of collection. We concluded that, although the rt-RT-PCR is more sensitive for RSV detection, the DFA offers a reliable point-of-care alternative detection method especially during the first few days of illness.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/781919 |
| spellingShingle | Caroline F. Shafik Emad W. Mohareb Fouad G. Youssef Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| title | Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children |
| title_full | Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children |
| title_short | Comparison of Direct Fluorescence Assay and Real-Time RT-PCR as Diagnostics for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Young Children |
| title_sort | comparison of direct fluorescence assay and real time rt pcr as diagnostics for respiratory syncytial virus in young children |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/781919 |
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