Van den Bergh Rafael, Chaillet Pascale, Sow Mamadou Saliou, Amand Mathieu, van Vyve Charlotte, Jonckheere Sylvie, Crestani Rosa, Sprecher Armand, Van Herp Michel, Chua Arlene, Piriou Erwan, Koivogui Lamine, Antierens Annick
Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Feb;22(2):210-6. doi: 10.3201/eid2202.151238.
Rapid diagnostic methods are essential in control of Ebola outbreaks and lead to timely isolation of cases and improved epidemiologic surveillance. Diagnosis during Ebola outbreaks in West Africa has relied on PCR performed in laboratories outside this region. Because time between sampling and PCR results can be considerable, we assessed the feasibility and added value of using the Xpert Ebola Assay in an Ebola control program in Guinea. A total of 218 samples were collected during diagnosis, treatment, and convalescence of patients. Median time for obtaining results was reduced from 334 min to 165 min. Twenty-six samples were positive for Ebola virus. Xpert cycle thresholds were consistently lower, and 8 (31%) samples were negative by routine PCR. Several logistic and safety issues were identified. We suggest that implementation of the Xpert Ebola Assay under programmatic conditions is feasible and represents a major advance in diagnosis of Ebola virus disease without apparent loss of assay sensitivity.
快速诊断方法对于控制埃博拉疫情至关重要，可促使及时隔离病例并加强流行病学监测。西非埃博拉疫情期间的诊断依赖于在该地区以外实验室进行的聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测。由于从采样到获得PCR结果的时间可能较长，我们评估了在几内亚的埃博拉防控项目中使用Xpert埃博拉检测法的可行性和附加价值。在患者诊断、治疗和康复期间共采集了218份样本。获得结果的中位时间从334分钟缩短至165分钟。26份样本埃博拉病毒检测呈阳性。Xpert检测的循环阈值始终较低，8份（31%）样本经常规PCR检测为阴性。还发现了一些后勤和安全问题。我们认为，在实际项目条件下实施Xpert埃博拉检测法是可行的，并且在埃博拉病毒病诊断方面取得了重大进展，且检测灵敏度无明显损失。
