Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, conventional cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants

Authors

  • Alexanda Dias Reis Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Maria Cristina Domingues Fink Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Clarisse Martins Machado Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • José de Paula Paz Jr. Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Renato Reis Oliveira Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Adriana Fumie Tateno Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Adriana Freire Machado Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias
  • Maria Regina Cardoso Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Saúde Pública; Departmento de Epidemiologia
  • Claudio Sérgio Pannuti Universidade de São Paulo; Facudade de Medicina; Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias

Keywords:

Respiratory syncytial virus, Infants, Diagnosis, Cell culture, Polymerase chain reaction, Immunofluorescence

Abstract

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.

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Published

2008-02-01

Issue

Section

Virology

How to Cite

Comparison of direct immunofluorescence, conventional cell culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants . (2008). Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 50(1), 37-40. https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/31145