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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
Performance of rapid influenza testing in hospitalized children
F Stripeli1, Z Sakkou, N Papadopoulos
1P&A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. stripeli@med.uoa.gr
Insights
Rapid influenza testing in hospitalized children aids early treatment and prevents spread. The QuickVue Influenza Test shows good accuracy, making it a useful tool for diagnosing flu in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Virology
- Diagnostic Test Evaluation
Background:
- Influenza infections lead to significant hospitalizations in young children.
- Timely diagnosis of influenza is crucial for preventing hospital-acquired infections and initiating prompt antiviral therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of a rapid influenza diagnostic test (QuickVue Influenza Test) in hospitalized children.
- To compare the rapid test results against a molecular diagnostic standard (RT-PCR).
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving hospitalized children (6 months to 14 years) with fever or respiratory symptoms during the 2005 influenza season.
- Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested using multiplex RT-PCR for influenza A (H1N1, H3N2) and B subtypes.
- Nasal swabs were analyzed with the QuickVue Influenza Test, a lateral-flow immunoassay.
Main Results:
- Influenza was diagnosed in 19% (41/217) of patients, exclusively influenza A (H3N2).
- The QuickVue Influenza Test demonstrated a sensitivity of 67.5%, specificity of 96%, positive predictive value of 79%, and negative predictive value of 93%.
- Higher sensitivity was observed in infants (6-12 months), children with shorter symptom duration, and during the epidemic peak.
Conclusions:
- The QuickVue Influenza Test is a valuable and reasonably accurate tool for detecting influenza in hospitalized children during the influenza season.
- A negative rapid test result suggests a low likelihood of influenza infection.
- A positive rapid test result indicates probable influenza infection when the virus is circulating in the community.
Abstract:
Influenza infection is associated with high hospitalization rates among young children. Rapid diagnosis of influenza infection is particularly useful in order to prevent nosocomial infection and allows for the timely initiation of antiviral treatment. We evaluated the performance of a rapid influenza test in hospitalized children during the influenza season. All children (aged 6 months to 14 years) hospitalized with fever and/or respiratory symptoms, admitted during the 2005 influenza season, participated in the study. A multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), able to identify IFV-A H1N1, H3N2, and IFV-B subtypes, was performed on nasopharyngeal aspirates. The nasal swab was tested with a lateral-flow immunoassay (QuickVue Influenza Test). The performance of the rapid test was compared with the results of PCR. Influenza infection was diagnosed by PCR in 41/217 (19%) patients. Infection with influenza A virus (H3N2) was diagnosed in all cases. The performance of the QuickVue Influenza Test was estimated as follows: sensitivity 67.5%, specificity 96%, positive predictive value 79%, and negative predictive value 93%. The sensitivity of the test was higher in infants aged 6-12 months, in those with short duration of symptoms, and in the peak phase of the epidemic. The QuickVue Influenza Test is useful and reasonably accurate to detect influenza infection in hospitalized children during the influenza season. Infection with influenza virus is unlikely if the test is negative. A positive result suggests that infection is probable if influenza virus circulates in the community.
