Real time-PCR, ELISA, as an identification methods for Detection respiratory syncytial virus in children

Abstract

The study have been done to detecting HRSV infections among hospitalized children under 10 years old in Salahaldin Governorate, in addition to compare different diagnostic methods for detection of this virus.Nasopharyngeal Swabs (NPS) and whole blood samples were taken from 400 hospitalized children between end of August 2013, to the end of May 2014, each sample was analyzed for HRSV by Real time –PCR, IgM and IgG specific to HRSV determining from blood specimens in serum using enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) technique.Nasopharyngeal Swab was more sensitive than the whole blood specimens for the detection of HRSV ,which is found in 1% by RT-PCR, in 81.9% by IgM –anti HRSV antibodies and in79.5% by IgG-HRSV antibodies. Autumn – winter periodwas considered as the most common time for HRSV infections with peak in September and February.