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One Step RT- PCR for Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Kiran Yadav, VG Ramachandran, Shukla Das, and Dheeraj Shah

To assess the diagnostic utility of Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in detecting the respiratory syncytial virus in lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Cross sectional diagnostic accuracy study in tertiary care hospital. Total 130 cases with LRTI between 2 months to 5 years of age were included in the study. Flocked nasal swabs samples were processed for detection of RSV virus by both rapid antigen detection method and RT-PCR. RSV was detected in 14 patients by rapid method and by RT-PCR in 16 patients. Out of the 14 positive cases by rapid antigen method, 13 subjects were also positive by RT-PCR but one was negative. There were 3 more subjects, positive only by RT-PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR was 92.85 percent and 97.41 percent respectively. RSV was demonstrated in much higher percentage of bronchiolitis, especially below 6 months of age compared to pneumonia. RT-PCR assay is a highly sensitive method for detection of RSV. If an appropriate turnaround time can be offered, molecular detection should be used for RSV diagnosis.