Direct fluorescent-antibody testing followed by culture for diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza A

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Oct;49(10):3673-4. doi: 10.1128/JCM.05255-11. Epub 2011 Aug 17.

Abstract

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza A outbreak, 773 children were tested for influenza by direct fluorescent-antibody testing with PCR confirmation. Direct fluorescent-antibody testing has a specificity of 99.6% but a sensitivity of only 65.0%. Physicians should recognize diagnostic limitations of direct fluorescent-antibody testing, which missed one-third of infected individuals.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral* / chemistry
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct / methods*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Virology / methods
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral