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Rapid diagnostic tests for influenza.
1Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. storch@kids.wustl.edu
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|January 25, 2003
Summary
Seven new rapid influenza diagnostic tests are now available, offering faster results than older methods. This review examines their performance in children, aiding clinical decisions.
Area of Science:
- Clinical microbiology
- Infectious disease diagnostics
Background:
- Traditional influenza diagnosis relied on complex methods like fluorescent antibody staining.
- Recent advancements have introduced seven commercially available rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs).
- Two of these RIDTs have Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) waived status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the seven available rapid influenza diagnostic tests.
- To review the performance of these tests in pediatric populations.
- To discuss the impact of RIDTs on clinical decision-making for influenza.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of English-language publications.
- Evaluation of test performance data from studies on pediatric specimens.
- Description of the characteristics of each of the seven RIDTs.
Main Results:
- The review encompasses seven distinct rapid influenza diagnostic tests.
- Performance data from pediatric studies are analyzed for each test.
- The implications for clinical practice are discussed based on test evaluations.
Conclusions:
- Rapid influenza diagnostic tests offer improved accessibility for influenza diagnosis.
- The performance of these tests in children is crucial for effective clinical management.
- RIDTs have the potential to significantly influence timely influenza treatment decisions.