Comparison of four latex agglutination (LA) and three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the detection of rotavirus in fecal specimens.

Eighty-two stool specimens obtained from children with gastrointestinal disease were tested for the presence of antigen to rotavirus by latex agglutination (LA) (Virogen (VR), Meritec (MER), Wellcome (WEL), Slidex Rotatest (SRT), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Rotaclone [TRC], Rotazyme II [RTZ], Pathfinder [PTH]). Confirmatory testing was performed by isolation of rotavirus from stool specimens with the use of a shell vial centrifugation, antigen-detection tissue culture amplification method. The sensitivities and negative predictive values of VR, MER, WEL, SRT, TRC, RTZ, and PTH tests were 85, 89, 95, 91, 98, and 100%, respectively. Each test demonstrated 100% specificity and positive predictive values except the SRT, which attained a specificity of 95%. The WEL LA test may be used as a preliminary rapid screening assay following a stat request. The Kallestad PTH ELISA, however, was determined to be the rotavirus antigen detection kit of choice for routine laboratory diagnostic testing.