Rapid detection of rotavirus in faces by a side latex agglutination test as compared with an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

A commercial latex agglutination slide test for rotavirus detection (RotascreenR) was compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a hospital setting using 225 patients, 6-24 months of age, who came with clinical symptoms suggestive of rotavirus diarrhoea. Of 225 specimens 120 (53% ) were found positive with the ELISA compared with only 69 (31%) using the Rotascreen. Twelve specimens gave equivocal results with Rotascreen, 2 of which were positive and the remaining 10 were negative using the EUSA. Excluding the results of these 12 specimens by both the assays, the Rotascreen showed a specificity of 95% and sensitivity of 54%, in comparison with results in the EUSA. Rotascreen is a rapid and simple test with a satisfactory specificity but a low sensitivity.