Key result
Multiplex RT-PCR detected influenza in 34.2% of patients compared to 36.0% with singleplex RT-PCR, supporting it as a comparable diagnostic method.
Why the study?
Does MRT-PCR compare to SRT-PCR for detecting influenza in outpatients with acute respiratory illness?
Cross-Sectional (n=935)
Does MRT-PCR compare to SRT-PCR for detecting influenza in outpatients with acute respiratory illness?
Absolute Event Rate: 34.2% vs 36%
MRT-PCR is a comparable method to SRT-PCR for detecting influenza in outpatients with acute respiratory illnesses.
Supports multiplex RT-PCR in outpatient influenza testing; leaves open prospective validation before practice change.
Rapid, accurate, and cost-effective methods to identify the cause of respiratory tract infections are needed to maximize clinical benefit. Outpatients with acute respiratory illness were tested for influenza using a singleplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (SRT-PCR) method. A multiplex RT-PCR (MRT-PCR) method tested for influenza and 17 other viruses and was compared with SRT-PCR using chi-square tests. Among 935 patients, 335 (36%) tested positive for influenza A and influenza B using SRT-PCR. Using MRT-PCR, 320 (34.2%) tested positive for influenza A and influenza B. This study supports MRT-PCR as a comparable method for detecting influenza among patients seeking outpatient care for acute respiratory illnesses.
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Zimmerman et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Acute respiratory illness (n=935). Multiplex RT-PCR (MRT-PCR) vs. Singleplex RT-PCR (SRT-PCR) was evaluated on Positive test for influenza A and influenza B. Multiplex RT-PCR detected influenza in 34.2% of patients compared to 36.0% with singleplex RT-PCR, supporting it as a comparable diagnostic method.
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