Comparison of the detection of influenza A and B viruses by different methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection of influenza viruses by three different methods. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from patients with influenza symptoms and examined for influenza A and B viruses using a rapid antigen test, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and a shell vial cell culture test. RESULTS: Using the shell vial cell culture test, the rapid antigen test and the multiplex PCR test in 130 patients, 31 (23.8%), 24 (18.5%) and 24 (18.5%) samples, respectively, were positive for influenza A and 10 (7.7%), nine (6.9%) and four (3.1%) samples, respectively, were positive for influenza B. Compared with the shell vial test, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the rapid antigen test were 77.4%, 93.3%, 80.0% and 93.1%, respectively, for influenza A, and 90.0%, 95.8%, 64.2% and 99.1%, respectively, for influenza B. The corresponding values for the multiplex PCR test were 77.4%, 95.9%, 85.7% and 93.1%, respectively, for influenza A, and 40.0%, 97.5%, 57.1% and 95.1%, respectively, for influenza B. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplex PCR test and the rapid antigen test are both effective in the detection of influenza A and B viruses. © SAGE Publications Ltd 2012.