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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
A comparison of a rapid test for influenza with laboratory-based diagnosis in a paediatric population
Robert Alexander1, Aeron C Hurt, David Lamb
1Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria.
Insights
The Directigen Flu A+B test shows 100% specificity for detecting influenza A and B but has 80.8% sensitivity. This rapid diagnostic offers potential patient management benefits, particularly with positive results.
Area of Science:
- Clinical diagnostics
- Virology
- Pediatric infectious diseases
Background:
- Accurate influenza A and B detection is crucial in hospitals for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and guiding antiviral treatment.
- Rapid diagnostic tests are valuable tools for timely patient management in pediatric settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of the Directigen Flu A+B rapid diagnostic test.
- To compare its accuracy against established laboratory methods for influenza A and B detection in pediatric respiratory specimens.
Main Methods:
- A total of 193 respiratory specimens were analyzed.
- The Directigen Flu A+B test was compared with direct immunofluorescence, viral culture, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Main Results:
- The Directigen Flu A+B test demonstrated a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 100%.
- Results align with previous pediatric studies indicating lower sensitivity compared to traditional laboratory tests.
Conclusions:
- The Directigen Flu A+B test is highly specific for influenza A and B detection.
- Despite lower sensitivity, the test has a potential role in patient management, especially when a positive result is obtained in pediatric settings.
Abstract:
The rapid and accurate detection of influenza A and B in a hospital setting is useful to confirm infection, exclude other diseases and assist in the management of patient illness including the possible use of specific antiviral therapy. We evaluated the use of the Directigen Flu A+B in a paediatric hospital laboratory in comparison with the established diagnostic tests direct immunofluorescence, viral culture and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 193 respiratory specimens were examined and the Directigen test detected positive samples with an 80.8 per cent sensitivity and a specificity of 100 per cent. This study confirms other paediatric studies which have found the Directigen Flu A+B to be less sensitive than traditional laboratory tests but nevertheless to have a potential role in patient management especially when a positive result is obtained.
