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A comparative study of immunocapture ELISA and RT-PCR for screening clinical samples from Southern Greece for human influenza virus types A and B

ELIAS PLAKOKEFALOS^*,, PANAYOTIS MARKOULATOS^*, EUTYCHIOS KTENAS, NIKI SPYROU^* and NICHOLAS C. VAMVAKOPOULOS

*National Influenza Center, Southern Greece, Virology Department, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, Athens 115 21, National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Avenue, Athens 115 21 and Department of Biology and Genetics, University of Thessaly Medical School, 22 Papakyriazi Street, Larisa 41222, Thessaly, Greece

Corresponding author: Dr N. Spyrou (e-mail: vresearch{at}hol.gr).

Date received 29 Nov. 1999; revised version received 30 March 2000; accepted 6 April 2000.

Abstract

An immunocapture (IC) ELISA and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR assays were evaluated as screening methods for the detection of influenza virus types A and B in clinical samples collected from individuals presenting with influenza-like symptoms in Southern Greece. Standard virus isolation in embryonated hens’ eggs was taken as the reference method. According to the reference method, 25 (16.7%) of the 150 clinical samples examined were infected by influenza viruses – 19 type A (H3N2) and 6 type B. The sensitivity of immunocapture ELISA was 64% and that for RT-PCR was 100%. The specificity of IC ELISA was 98% and by RT-PCR 97%. The positive diagnostic value of IC ELISA was 94% and of RT-PCR 86%, whereas the negative diagnostic values for IC ELISA and PCR were 93% and 100%, respectively. These findings confirm that RT-PCR provides significantly increased sensitivity over IC ELISA and can be of value in the management of regional influenza screening surveys conducted by the national public health services.

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