Stability of respiratory syncytial virus antigen due to buffer treatment for direct detection in nasopharyngeal specimens with enzyme immunoassay.

We developed an enzyme immunoassay (direct EIA; Enzygnost RSV[Ag]) for the direct detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in nasopharyngeal specimens (NPS). The test procedure is the same as our recently described direct EIA for detection of influenza A and B virus antigens in NPS. For practical purposes it is of advantage to differentiate respiratory viruses on the same microtitration plate in the same run. The test shows no limitations by sample consistency, and results are obtained within 4 hr. In contrast to other test systems, sonification is not necessary. This is due to the sample buffer STD. We studied the influence of sample buffer STD on the stability of RSV (strain Long) antigen at different temperatures over a period of 7 days. PBS-BSA-buffer served as control. The treatment and storage of RSV (strain Long) with sample buffer STD at room temperature or at 4 degrees C showed no decrease of antigen detectability. The antigen is very stable in contrast to the storage of RSV (strain Long) in PBS-BSA buffer during the observation period of 7 days. Consequently, when NPS are stored in sample buffer STD, results of direct EIA are independent from the time of transport and temperature within 7 days. Thirty-eight NPS from infants with confirmed RSV infection were investigated. Confirmation was performed by virus isolation (n = 29) or with commercially available enzyme immunoassays or immunofluorescence test (n = 9). The direct EIA showed a specificity of 99.3% (n = 140) and a sensitivity of 95% (n = 38).