Evaluation of the Quidel QuickVue Test for Detection of Influenza A and B Viruses in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Setting by Use of Three Specimen Collection Methods

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 2638 - 2641
• Main Authors: Agoritsas, Konstantinos, Mack, Kathy, Bonsu, Bema K, Goodman, Debbie, Salamon, Douglas, Marcon, Mario J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Emergency Medicine - methods; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza A virus - growth & development; Influenza A virus - isolation & purification; Influenza B virus; Influenza B virus - genetics; Influenza B virus - growth & development; Influenza B virus - isolation & purification; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Male; Nasopharynx - virology; Nose - virology; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virology; Virus Cultivation
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X; 1098-5530
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02644-05

The Quidel QuickVue influenza test was compared to viral culture and reverse transcriptase PCR by the use of three different respiratory specimen types. Of 122 pediatric subjects enrolled, 59 had influenza virus infections: 44 were infected with influenza A virus and 15 were infected with influenza B virus. The sensitivity of the QuickVue test was 85% with nasopharyngeal swabs, 78% with nasal swabs, and 69% with nasopharyngeal washes. Specificities were equivalent (97% to 98%) for all three collection methods.