Test characteristics of commercial influenza assays for detecting pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in children

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010 Mar;29(3):261-2. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181be9f9c.

Abstract

We assessed the test characteristics of 2 influenza antigen tests, a rapid immunoassay and a direct fluorescence antibody (DFA) assay, in detecting pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in children up to 18 years of age, using polymerase chain reaction as the standard. The sensitivities of BinaxNOW (59.6%) and direct fluorescence antibody (57.3%) were similar. The specificity of each test was >99%.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
  • Influenza, Human / virology*
  • Male
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic