Abstract
Little is known about laboratory capacity to routinely diagnose influenza and other respiratory viruses at clinical laboratories and hospitals. We sought to assess diagnostic practices for influenza and other respiratory virus in a survey of hospitals and laboratories participating in the US Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network in 2012-2013. All hospitals and their associated laboratories participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) were included in this evaluation. The network covers more than 80 counties in 15 states, CA, CO, CT, GA, MD, MN, NM, NY, OR, TN, IA, MI, OH, RI, and UT, with a catchment population of ~28 million people. We administered a standardized questionnaire to key personnel, including infection control practitioners and laboratory departments, at each hospital through telephone interviews. Of the 240 participating laboratories, 67% relied only on commercially available rapid influenza diagnostic tests to diagnose influenza. Few reported the availability of molecular diagnostic assays for detection of influenza (26%) and other viral pathogens (≤20%) in hospitals and commercial laboratories. Reliance on insensitive assays to detect influenza may detract from optimal clinical management of influenza infections in hospitals.
Highlights
Little is known about laboratory capacity to routinely diagnose influenza and other respiratory viruses at clinical laboratories and hospitals
Few reported the availability of molecular diagnostic assays for detection of influenza (26%) and other viral pathogens (≤20%) in hospitals and commercial laboratories
Whether or not a hospitalized patient is tested for influenza is dependent upon the clinical practices of the team caring for each individual patient
Summary
Little is known about laboratory capacity to routinely diagnose influenza and other respiratory viruses at clinical laboratories and hospitals. The accuracy of diagnosing influenza virus infections on the basis of symptoms alone is limited, as symptoms from illnesses caused by other respiratory pathogens overlap considerably.[1,2] Early and accurate identification of influenza can reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics and inform treatment decisions regarding the use of influenza antiviral agents.[3,4] Several influenza diagnostic assays are commercially available and include rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs), immunoassays that identify viral antigens in respiratory specimens, and more recently, molecular based assays that detect viral nucleic acid in respiratory specimens.[5] Prior to the 2009 influenza pandemic, the U.S public health infrastructure’s capacity to quickly and accurately detect influenza viruses, including novel influenza A viruses, was established.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
