ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emergent human respiratory pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) to detect hMPV in a clinical laboratory setting. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples (448) of children and adults with respiratory illness were used to detect hMPV by using DIF and real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. RESULTS: In all, 36 (8%) samples were positive by DIF and 94 (21%) were positive by qRT-PCR. Direct immunofluorescence specificity was 99% and sensitivity was 38%. CONCLUSIONS: DIF is not very sensitive under clinical laboratory settings.
Subject(s)
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct , Metapneumovirus/isolation & purification , Paramyxoviridae Infections/diagnosis , Respiratory Tract Infections/diagnosis , Adult , Child , Humans , Metapneumovirus/genetics , Metapneumovirus/immunology , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Respiratory Tract Infections/virology , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an emergent human respiratory pathogen. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of direct immunofl uorescence (DIF) to detect hMPV in a clinical laboratory setting. Methods: Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples (448) of children and adults with respiratory illness were used to detect hMPV by using DIF and real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Results: In all, 36 (8%) samples were positive by DIF and 94 (21%) were positive by qRT-PCR. Direct immunofl uorescence specifi city was 99% and sensitivity was 38%. Conclusions: DIF is not very sensitive under clinical laboratory settings. (AU)
