Peroxidase-antiperoxidase assay for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasal epithelial specimens from infants and children.

A peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) assay for the rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus was compared with the indirect immunofluorescence method and with viral culture. Nasal epithelial specimens from 147 infants and children with acute respiratory infections were obtained and evaluated for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus antigens. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy by PAP were 91.7, 84.8, and 87.1%, respectively, and 87.0, 88.5, and 88.0%, respectively, by immunofluorescence compared with viral culture. The PAP assay was found to be as accurate as the indirect immunofluorescence method and more convenient to perform, since the color reaction and cell morphology were more easily observable by light microscopy. A new specimen collection method is reported; gentle scraping of the superficial nasal mucosa by the Rhino-probe method provided sufficient numbers of epithelial cells to perform multiple assays.