Review
New molecular virus detection methods and their clinical value in lower respiratory tract infections in children

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prrv.2012.04.002Get rights and content

Summary

During the past decade, several new respiratory viruses and their subgroups have been discovered. All these new viruses, as well as previously known respiratory viruses, can be detected by sensitive PCR methods, which have become popular in the diagnostic workup of respiratory viral infections. Currently, respiratory viruses can be detected in up to 95% of children with lower respiratory tract illness. On the other hand, virus detection rates in asymptomatic children are also high (up to 68%), as are coinfection rates in symptomatic children (up to 43%) and justified concerns of causality have been raised. Imposing progress has been made in developing multiplex quantitative PCR assays; here, several primer sets are run within a single PCR mixture. These PCR assays give a better understanding of the dominant viral infection, of viral infections that may be incipient and of any waning infections than does a single-target PCR. Multiplex PCR assays are also gaining popularity due to their cost-effectiveness and short throughput time compared to multiple single-target PCRs. Our understanding of the indications of virus PCRs and our ability to interpret the results from a clinical point of view have improved. This paper reviews the progress in PCR assays and discusses their role in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections in children.

Abbreviations

DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
HBoV
human bocavirus
HMPV
human metapneumovirus
HRV
human rhinovirus
LRTI
lower respiratory tract illness
n
number of samples
NP
nasophryngeal
NPA
nasopharyngeal aspirate
PCR
polymerase chain reaction
PIV
parainfluenza virus
qPCR
quantitative PCR
RNA
ribonucleic acid
RSV
respiratory syncytial virus
RT
reverse transcriptase
RVP
respiratory virus panel

Keywords

Child
Infection
Lower respiratory tract
Multiplex
PCR
Quantitative
Respiratory
Virus

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Supported by the Finnish Medical Foundation, the Research Funds of the University of Helsinki, and the Foundation for Pediatric Research, all in Helsinki, Finland.

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