Molecular detection of respiratory viruses

Abstract

Over the past several years a wide variety of molecular assays for the detection of respiratory viruses has reached the market. The tests described herein range from kits containing primers and probes detecting specific groups of viruses, to self-contained systems requiring specialized instruments that extract nucleic acids and perform the polymerase chain reaction with little operator input. Some of the tests target just the viruses involved in large yearly epidemics such as influenza, or specific groups of viruses such as the adenoviruses or parainfluenza viruses; others can detect most of the known respiratory viruses and some bacterial agents.

Keywords: Laboratory diagnosis; Molecular methods; Polymerase chain reaction; Respiratory viruses.

Fig. 1

Cepheid GenXpert system. (A) Instruments with 1- to 16-cartridge capacity. (B) Exploded view of GenXpert cartridge.

Fig. 2

3M Integrated Cycler and Focus Simplexa kit.

Fig. 3

Nanosphere Verigene system. Verigene processor on the right, reader and cartridges on the left. Instrument footprints in inches: Processor, 7.6 width × 18.7 height × 22.9 depth; reader, 11.7 width × 12.4 height × 20.5 depth. Processors are stackable. No computer is required for operation.

Fig. 4

GenMark eSensor system. (A) XT-8 instrument. (B) eSensor cartridge. Instrument footprint in inches: 15.75 width × 18.11 height × 16.14 depth. A computer is not required for operation.

Fig. 5

Luminex 200 instrument. Luminex 200 (right) and SD sheath fluid module (left). Instrument footprints in inches: Luminex 200, 17.00 width × 9.50 height × 20.00 depth; SD Module, 8.00 width × 9.75 height × 11.75 depth. A computer is required for operation.

Fig. 6

BioFire FilmArray respiratory panel assay. (A) FilmArray RP Pouch. (B) FilmArray instrument and pouch. Instrument footprint in inches: 10.00 width × 6.5 height × 15.5 depth. A computer is required for operation.