The polio eradication end game: what it means for Europe

摘要

The series of polio articles in this edition begins with the article by Hindiyeh et al. [3] describing direct sew- age testing for wild poliovirus antigen, using a multi- plex quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for rapid detection of the virus, directly on concen- trated sewage samples. When compared to cell culture of the same sewage specimens, which is the initial pro- cess in the gold standard testing protocol for confirma- tion of polio, sensitivity and specificity of the multiplex system were shown to be high. Results were obtained in 24 to 48 hours, rather than the usual five to seven days required for the culture-based protocol.