Evaluation of an immunochromatography method for rapid detection of noroviruses in clinical specimens in Thailand

J Med Virol. 2010 Dec;82(12):2106-9. doi: 10.1002/jmv.21916.

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) is a causative agent of gastroenteritis in children and adults worldwide. Although reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been accepted as the standard method for diagnosis of NoV infection, it requires well-trained personnel and sophisticated equipments. Performance of a commercial immunochromatography (IC) test for rapid detection of NoV was evaluated with fecal specimens collected from children admitted to a hospital with acute gastroenteritis during 2005-2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A total of 463 fecal specimens were tested for the presence of NoV by a commercial immunochromatography kit (IP-NoV) and by RT-PCR. Sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of immunochromatography as compared to RT-PCR were 74.2%, 99.5%, and 96.1%, respectively. Based on the NoV genotypes determined by phylogenetic analysis, immunochromatography detected NoV GII/3, GII/4, GII/6, GII/13, GII/15, and GII/16 genotypes. The findings indicate that the immunochromatography kit could be used for a direct detection of NoV GII in clinical specimens and covering a wide range of NoV genotypes circulating in Thailand.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromatography / methods*
  • Diarrhea / diagnosis
  • Diarrhea / virology
  • Feces / virology*
  • Gastroenteritis / diagnosis
  • Gastroenteritis / virology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Norovirus / classification
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thailand / epidemiology

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic