A rapid test for detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal secretion.

A new rapid membrane enzyme immunoassay (MEIA; Directigen RSV) for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was evaluated using samples of nasopharyngeal secretion from infants and children with acute respiratory disease. The MEIA was compared with an immunofluorescent antibody (IF) technique using a sensitive biotin-avidin (BA) EIA as reference. Of 242 samples tested, 108 were positive by the MEIA and 123 by the BA-EIA. Of 144 samples which were also tested by the IF technique, 57 were positive by the BA-EIA and 43 by the IF technique. These results give a sensitivity of 86% and 72% for the MEIA and IF technique respectively. Of 57 samples found to be positive by the BA-EIA, 41 were positive by the IF technique, but 48 were positive by the MEIA. The MEIA is thus more sensitive than the IF technique but less sensitive than the BA-EIA in detecting RSV in nasopharyngeal secretions.