Evaluation of twenty rapid antigen tests for the detection of human influenza A H5N1, H3N2, H1N1, and B viruses

摘要

Influenza A H3N2, H1N1, and influenza B viruses are major causes of winter illness in humans, being associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the very young, the elderly and in people with chronic disease. Pandemics following the emergence of new influenza A strains cause significant morbidity and mortality, social disruption, and economic losses. In the last few years influenza A H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, has been circulating in wild and domestic birds. This has raised concerns of a potential influenza A H5N1 pandemic, following descriptions of severe human disease after influenza A H5N1 infection. A pandemic has been declared following the emergence of the novel influenza A H1N1 09 virus. Laboratory confirmation of acute human influenza infection is made by virus isolation, nucleic acid testing (NAT), or detection of influenza antigens.