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Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for the Detection of H5N1 in Milk
Missiani Ochwoto1, Franziska Kaiser1, Claude Kwe Yinda1
1Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA.
Abstract:
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) could be useful in the current bovine H5N1 outbreak. Here, we evaluated three RIDTs with H5N1. The RDITs showed comparable sensitivity with H5N1 compared to seasonal influenza A virus H3N2, and no difference was observed in sensitivity between raw milk and the PBS control.
Insights
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) show promise for detecting avian H5N1 in cattle. These tests performed similarly for H5N1 and seasonal flu, even in raw milk samples.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Diagnostic Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The current bovine H5N1 outbreak necessitates rapid diagnostic tools.
- Avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a significant zoonotic risk.
- Timely detection is crucial for disease control and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of three rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) for detecting H5N1 in bovine samples.
- To compare the sensitivity of RIDTs for H5N1 against a known influenza A strain (H3N2).
- To assess the impact of sample matrix (raw milk vs. PBS) on RIDT performance.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of three commercially available RIDTs.
- Testing with avian influenza H5N1 and seasonal influenza A virus H3N2.
- Comparison of test sensitivity using raw milk and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as controls.
Main Results:
- RIDTs demonstrated comparable sensitivity when detecting H5N1 and H3N2.
- No significant difference in sensitivity was observed between raw milk samples and PBS controls.
- The evaluated RIDTs are potentially effective for H5N1 detection in bovine settings.
Conclusions:
- RIDTs are a viable option for rapid H5N1 detection in the context of the bovine outbreak.
- The diagnostic performance of RIDTs is not compromised by the presence of raw milk.
- Further validation in diverse field conditions is recommended.
