SimulFluor respiratory screen for rapid detection of multiple respiratory viruses in clinical specimens by immunofluorescence staining

A new rapid direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) respiratory screen reagen t for detection of seven common respiratory viruses (respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza virus types 1 to 3, a nd adenovirus) was compared with standard single or dual DFA reagents and c ulture. In total, 1,531 respiratory samples were adequate for testing with both SimulFluor Respiratory Screen (RS) reagent (Chemicon International, Te mecula, Calif.) and single or dual DFA reagents. The RS DFA reagent detecte d 367 (98.4%) and single or dual DFA reagents detected 368 (98.7%) of 373 D FA-positive samples. In addition, the RS DFA reagent was equivalent to or b etter than culture for detection of all viruses except adenovirus. Only 15 of 799 (1.9%) RS-negative samples inoculated into cell cultures yielded res piratory virus isolates tone RSV, five influenza A virus, two influenza B v irus! one parainfluenza virus, and six adenovirus). Sixty-six other virus i solates (13 rhinovirus, 24 cytomegalovirus, 28 herpes simplex virus type II and 1 enterovirus) were also recovered in culture. with cytospin preparati on of slides, only 7.5% of samples submitted were deemed inadequate for DFA . The availability of a rapid DFA screening reagent for detection of multip le common respiratory viruses within I to 2 h of sample collection should b e of great benefit in terms of patient management and infection control.