Article in Japanese

Usefulness and problems of rapid antigen test for respiratory syncytial virus detection

Aya TAKEYAMA¹⁾, Koichi HASHIMOTO²⁾, Yukihiko KAWASAKI²⁾, Masahiko KATAYOSE¹⁾, Mitsuaki HOSOYA²⁾

At present, the rapid respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen detection kit is common and easily controlled in clinical use. In this study we demonstrated the effectiveness and problems of the rapid RSV antigen detection kits. We compared the specificity and sensitivity of six test kits available in Japan using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nasopharyngeal aspiration samples were obtained from children with lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV who were hospitalized in Soma General Hospital using both rapid RSV antigen detection tests and a real-time PCR.
Based on the results of real-time PCR, all of the kits had high specificity and few false positive. However, kit sensitivities varied from 32% to 79%. Negative results were obtained from all rapid tests in nasopharyngeal samples containing lower viral loads. It should be considered that the false negatives are attributable to the binding affinity of the monoclonal anti-body to the antigen.
Rapid RSV antigen detection kits contribute to controlling RSV infection by using a sample containing sufficient viral load and a kit with high sensitivity and specificity.

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1) Department of Pediatrics, Soma General Hospital
2) Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University

Key words
Received	April 6, 2010
Accepted	July 9, 2010

22 (4)：337─342,2010