Zhang Lei*, Yang Feng and Zhu Junzhe
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common viral pathogen that causes respiratory tract infections across a spectrum of ages, from infants and young children to the elderly. The significance of rapid and accurate RSV diagnosis is crucial for early treatment and prevention of further transmission. The RSV rapid test cassette from Hangzhou AllTest Biotech Co., Ltd is a lateral flow immunoassay that detects RSV antigens in respiratory specimens, including nasopharyngeal swabs and nasal aspirates. The performance of the RSV rapid test cassette (nasopharyngeal swab/nasal aspirate) has been evaluated using patient specimens, with RT-PCR serving as the benchmark reference method.
Patients displaying respiratory symptoms provided nasopharyngeal swab and nasal aspirate specimens. Each patient’s sample was tested using the RSV rapid test and RTPCR molecular assay and the results were compared. The RSV rapid test’s performance was calculated for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
When testing nasopharyngeal swab specimens, the RSV rapid test cassette resulted in a sensitivity of 92.7%, a specificity of 98.0%, and an accuracy of 95.6%. When testing nasal aspirate specimens, the RSV rapid test cassette showed a sensitivity of 92.6%, a specificity of 98.5%, and an accuracy of 96.0%.
Overall, the RSV rapid test cassette demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for RSV detection, comparable to that of the RT-PCR assay. The RSV rapid test cassette offers a quick and easy-to-use alternative to the RT-PCR, making it a valuable screening tool for point-of-care diagnosis of RSV infections. The continued development and evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests for RSV are critical for improving patient outcomes and reducing transmission rates.
KeywordsRSV; Rapid test; RT-PCR
Published Date: 2023-08-31; Received Date: 2023-08-01
