PROSPECTIVE APPLICATION OF REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR DIAGNOSING INFLUENZA INFECTIONS IN RESPIRATORY SAMPLES FROM A CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL

A prospective clinical evaluation of the reverse transcriptase polymer ase chain reaction (RNA PCR) for detection of influenza viruses was ca rried out with specimens from 342 patients of a children's hospital in The Netherlands. The RNA PCR, carried out directly on the specimens w ithout an organic extraction, showed a sensitivity and specificity whi ch are superior to those of direct immunofluorescence and comparable t o those of cell culture combined with immunofluorescence (culture/IF). Negative results can be obtained within 2 days by the RNA PCR but may take up to t4 days by culture/IF. Because culturing is the standard t echnique for the detection of respiratory viruses, at this moment ther e are no strong arguments to replace culture/IF with RNA PCR for the d etection of influenza A virus.