Comparison of three enzyme immunoassays to tissue culture for the diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and young children.

Three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), Rotazyme II, IDL, and Pathfinder, were evaluated for rotavirus detection in stool and rectal swab specimens from children with symptomatic gastroenteritis and compared with virus isolation in primary African green monkey kidney cells. Of 125 specimens tested, 49 were rotavirus positive by tissue culture isolation; of these 49, 40 were positive by Rotazyme II, 43 were positive by IDL, and 46 were positive by Pathfinder EIAs. As compared with tissue culture isolation, the Rotazyme II, IDL, and Pathfinder EIAs had sensitivities of 82, 88, and 94%, specificities of 90, 99, and 95%, and overall agreements of 86, 94, and 94%, respectively.