Detection of respiratory syncytial virus antigen in nasopharyngeal secretions by Abbott Diagnostics enzyme immunoassay

Abstract

We compared a rapid respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Abbott Diagnostics, North Chicago, Ill.) with virus culture and with the indirect fluorescent-antibody test (FAT) by using nasopharyngeal washings from children with suspected RSV pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Fresh washings were used in all three tests. Specimens were inoculated into HEp-2 cells and human embryonic lung fibroblasts and observed for cytopathic effect. Cells in the centrifuged sediments of the nasal washes were examined for typical cytoplasmic fluorescence of RSV by FAT. The EIA cutoff was an optical density (OD) at 492 nm that was greater than the mean OD of the negative controls plus 0.1. An OD within +20% of the cutoff was considered borderline, and these specimens were retested. Of 289 specimens, 118 (41%) were positive by culture, 150 (52%) were positive by FAT, and 154 (53%) were positive by EIA. Eight borderline EIAs were all negative when the specimens were retested after storage at -70 degrees C. Of 17 specimens positive by EIA but negative by culture and FAT, 9 were blocked in a competitive EIA, indicating that they were true-positives and that the culture and FAT were falsely negative. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value (positive) of the EIA versus culture, FAT, or blocking assay were 90, 94, and 95%, respectively. We conclude that the Abbott RSV antigen EIA is highly sensitive and specific.