TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance of the kallestad pathfinder enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus infections
AU - Olsen, Margaret A.
AU - Shuck, Kathleen M.
AU - Sambol, Anthony R.
AU - Bohnert, Virginia A.
AU - Henery, Mary L.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - The Kallestad Pathfinder enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen was compared with virus culture and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) to determine the reliability of the EIA. During two consecutive winter respiratory seasons, 270 nasopharyngeal wash specimens were tested. RSV was detected in culture by the presence of cytopathic effect and/or an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The sensitivity of the Pathfinder EIA in comparison with isolation in tube culture was 72% (73 of 101) and the specificity was 99% (167 of 169). During the second year of the evaluation period, DFA was performed on all specimens. The sensitivity of the DFA compared with isolation in tube culture was 94%. This study indicates that the Pathfinder EIA is a very specific test for diagnosis of RSV infections, but lacks sensitivity in comparison with tube culture or direct immunofluorescence.
AB - The Kallestad Pathfinder enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen was compared with virus culture and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) to determine the reliability of the EIA. During two consecutive winter respiratory seasons, 270 nasopharyngeal wash specimens were tested. RSV was detected in culture by the presence of cytopathic effect and/or an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The sensitivity of the Pathfinder EIA in comparison with isolation in tube culture was 72% (73 of 101) and the specificity was 99% (167 of 169). During the second year of the evaluation period, DFA was performed on all specimens. The sensitivity of the DFA compared with isolation in tube culture was 94%. This study indicates that the Pathfinder EIA is a very specific test for diagnosis of RSV infections, but lacks sensitivity in comparison with tube culture or direct immunofluorescence.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027195116&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0732-8893(93)90084-K
DO - 10.1016/0732-8893(93)90084-K
M3 - Article
C2 - 8495589
AN - SCOPUS:0027195116
SN - 0732-8893
VL - 16
SP - 325
EP - 329
JO - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
JF - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
IS - 4
ER -