Analytical sensitivity of rapid influenza antigen detection tests for swine-origin influenza virus (H1N1)
Received 22 May 2009; accepted 22 May 2009. published online 19 June 2009.
Abstract
Background
A novel swine origin influenza virus (S-OIV) (H1N1) is spreading worldwide and threatens to become pandemic.
Objectives
Determine analytical sensitivity of selected commercially available rapid influenza antigen detection tests in detecting S-OIV H1N1.
Study design
Serial dilutions of two S-OIV isolates, one seasonal influenza A (H1N1) isolate and a nasopharyngeal aspirate from a patient with S-OIV disease were tested in five commercially available influenza antigen detection tests and by virus isolation in cell culture. Viral M gene copy number was determined by quantitative PCR methods.
Results
The analytical sensitivity of the five influenza antigen detection tests for S-OIV (tissue culture infectious dose 50 (TCID50) log103.3–4.7 was comparable with that of seasonal influenza (TCID50 log104.0–4.5).
Conclusion
The analytical sensitivity of the selected influenza A antigen detection tests for detection of S-IOV was comparable with that of seasonal influenza H1N1.
aDepartment of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
bDepartment of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
cHKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Corresponding author at: Department of Microbiology, University Pathology Building, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Tel.: +852 2855 4888; fax: +852 2855 1241.
ABSTRACT