Improvement in turnaround time for rapid respiratory virus testing using Xpert® Flu/RSV: a retrospective cohort study during a high incidence influenza season

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 95; no. 4; p. 114869
• Main Authors: Williams, Eloise, Dennison, Amanda, Jenney, Adam W, Spelman, Denis W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Influenza; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - virology; Medical Audit; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - standards; Molecular Diagnostics; Orthomyxoviridae - genetics; Orthomyxoviridae - physiology; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses - genetics; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses - physiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - diagnosis; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Respiratory Virus; Retrospective Studies; Seasons; Tertiary Care Centers; Time Factors; Molecular Diagnostics; Respiratory Virus; Influenza
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.114869

Seasonal influenza like illness results in increased hospital presentations and unnecessary antibiotic use. Recent availability of rapid respiratory virus PCR testing allows rapid, accurate influenza diagnosis. A retrospective audit of turnaround time from sample collection to result availability after introduction of Xpert® Flu/RSV in a tertiary healthcare institution during a high incidence influenza season is described.