Performance of the Alere™ I Influenza A&B and the Cepheid Xpert^® Flu/RSV Xc Assays

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the Alere™ i Influenza A&B assay and the Xpert^® Flu/RSV XC assay using nasopharyngeal aspirates and swabs not provided in the commercial kits. Methods: Specimens were tested with the Alere i Influenza A&B and the Xpert Flu/RSV XC assays and compared with reference methods. Results: Compared with the comparator methods and following discordant analysis, the sensitivity of the i Influenza A&B assay was 63.3% for influenza A and 83.3% for influenza B. For the Xpert Flu/RSV XC assay, sensitivity was 100% for influenza A and B and respiratory syncytial virus. The specificity for all test systems was 100%. Conclusion: The Xpert Flu/RSV XC assay out-performed the Alere i Influenza A&B assay in all diagnostic characteristics evaluated.

KEYWORDS :

• Alere™ i Influenza A&B assay
• Cepheid Xpert^® Flu/RSV XC
• influenza
• molecular diagnostics
• rapid testing
• respiratory syncytial virus

Acknowledgements

We thank the clinical laboratory staff for their assistance with this study.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The Alere™ i Influenza A&B kits and instrument for this study were provided by Alere™ Canada (ON, Canada). The Xpert^® Flu/RSV XC kits and instrument were provided by Inter Medico (ON, Canada). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of this manuscript. The manuscript and its findings are those of the authors. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.