%0 Journal Article
%T BinaxNOW  - An immunochromatographic test for the diagnosis of human influenza viruses: Comparison with viral culture and polymerase chain reaction
%A Bhattacharya S
%A Osman H
%J Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
%D 2011
%I Medknow Publications
%X Purpose: A rapid test for influenza viruses (Binax NOW  ) was evaluated. Materials and Methods: In season-1, 35 respiratory samples were tested retrospectively; in season-2, 45 samples were tested prospectively [gold-standard: viral culture in season-1, culture+ reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in season-2]. Results: Sensitivity for Binax for influenza A was 59.3 and 0% in season-1 and -2, respectively. Sensitivity was low for influenza B (33.3% in season-1, 26.1% in season-2). Samples having low viral load were more likely to have a negative Binax test. Specificity of Binax was high (100 and 94.7% with influenza A and B, respectively). Conclusion: Sensitivity information provided in the kit insert does not always reflect post licensure performance in clinical settings.
%K Influenza
%K rapid antigen test
%K sensitivity
%U http://www.ijmm.org/article.asp?issn=0255-0857;year=2011;volume=29;issue=1;spage=19;epage=21;aulast=Bhattacharya