JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 4 November 2009

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J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.01465-09
Copyright (c) 2009, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Comparison of a Rapid Antigen Test with Nucleic Acid Testing During Co-circulation of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 and Seasonal Influenza A/H3N2

Jen Kok^*, Christopher C. Blyth, Hong Foo, Jason Patterson, Janette Taylor, Kenneth McPhie, V. Mala Ratnamohan, Jonathan R. Iredell, and Dominic E. Dwyer

Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jen.kok{at}swahs.health.nsw.gov.au.

The rapid diagnosis of influenza is critical in optimizing clinical management. Rapid antigen tests have decreased sensitivity in detecting pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 when compared to seasonal influenza A subtypes (53.4% vs. 74.2%, p<0.001). Nucleic acid tests should be used to detect pandemic influenza when rapid antigen tests are negative.