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Updated: Aug 7, 2025
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
Clinical performance evaluation of the Fluorecare® SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B & RSV rapid antigen combo test in
Jean-Louis Bayart1, Constant Gillot2, Jean-Michel Dogné2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinique St-Pierre, Ottignies, Belgium.
Background:
A SARS-CoV-2+Flu A/B+RSV Combo Rapid test may be more relevant than Rapid Antigen Diagnostic (RAD) tests targeting only SARS-CoV-2 since we are facing a concurrent circulation of these viruses during the winter season.
Objectives:
To assess the clinical performance of a SARS-CoV-2+Flu A/B+RSV Combo test in comparison to a multiplex RT-qPCR.
Study Design:
Residual nasopharyngeal swabs issued from 178 patients were included. All patients, adults and children, were symptomatic and presented at the emergency department with flu-like symptoms. Characterization of the infectious viral agent was done by RT-qPCR. The viral load was expressed as cycle threshold (Ct). Samples were then tested using the multiplex RAD test Fluorecare®ฏ SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B & RSV Antigen Combo Test. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics.
Results:
The sensitivity of the test varies according to the virus, with the highest sensitivity observed for Influenza A (80.8.% [95%CI: 67.2 - 94.4]) and the lowest sensitivity observed for RSV (41.5% [95%CI: 26.2 - 56.8]). Higher sensitivities were observed for samples with high viral loads (Ct < 20) and decrease with low viral loads. The specificity for SARS-CoV-2, RSV and Influenza A and B was >95%.
Conclusions:
The Fluorecare® combo antigenic presents satisfying performance in real-life clinical setting for Influenza A and B in samples with high viral load. This could be useful to allow a rapid (self-)isolation as the transmissibility of these viruses increase with the viral load. According to our results, its use to rule-out SARS-CoV-2 and RSV infection is not sufficient.
