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. 2011 Aug;17(8):1553-5.
doi: 10.3201/eid1708.101815.

Specimen collection and confirmation of norovirus outbreaks

Melissa S Plantenga  1 , Beletshachew Shiferaw, William E Keene, Christianne Biggs, James M Terry, Ladonna Grenz, Paul R Cieslak
Affiliations

Specimen collection and confirmation of norovirus outbreaks

Melissa S Plantenga et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

We evaluated data from gastroenteritis outbreaks in Oregon to assess sensitivity of stool testing for norovirus and determine number of specimens needed to confirm norovirus as the cause. Norovirus can be readily confirmed if 3-6 specimens are collected any time ≤7 days after onset of diarrhea and for almost that long after symptoms resolve.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of specimens positive for norovirus (line), by days after onset of diarrhea, Oregon, USA, August 1999–January 2007.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of outbreaks confirmed as norovirus (line), by number of specimens tested, Oregon, USA, August 1999–January 2007.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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