Evaluation of a commercial enzyme immunomembrane filter assay for detection of respiratory syncytial virus in clinical specimens

A commercial enzyme immunomembrane filter assay (EIFA) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was compared prospectively with isolation in cell culture and an enzyme immunoassay. A total of 595 respiratory specimens, mostly from pediatric patients, were examined. The EIFA was 70.96 % sensitive and 72.40 % specific in comparison with cell culture. Results for 40 specimens (6.72 %) were uninterpretable, mainly due to filtration difficulties. Twenty-one (25 %) of 84 specimens whose results were initially considered false-positive were subsequently confirmed positive after a blocking test with bovine anti-RSV serum. On the basis of the total number of confirmed positive results, the sensitivity and the specificity of the test were 87.90 % and 75.77 %, respectively.