Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, conventional cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants
Keywords:
Respiratory syncytial virus, Infants, Diagnosis, Cell culture, Polymerase chain reaction, ImmunofluorescenceAbstract
A total of 316 samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate from infants up to two years of age with acute respiratory-tract illnesses were processed for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using three different techniques: viral isolation, direct immunofluorescence, and PCR. Of the samples, 36 (11.4%) were positive for RSV, considering the three techniques. PCR was the most sensitive technique, providing positive findings in 35/316 (11.1%) of the samples, followed by direct immunofluorescence (25/316, 7.9%) and viral isolation (20/315, 6.3%) (p < 0.001). A sample was positive by immunofluorescence and negative by PCR, and 11 (31.4%) were positive only by RT-PCR. We conclude that RT-PCR is more sensitive than IF and viral isolation to detect RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens in newborn and infants.Downloads
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Published
2008-02-01
Issue
Section
Virology
How to Cite
Reis, A. D., Fink, M. C. D., Machado, C. M., Paz Jr., J. de P., Oliveira, R. R., Tateno, A. F., Machado, A. F., Cardoso, M. R., & Pannuti, C. S. (2008). Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, conventional cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 50(1), 37-40. https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/31145