Detection of respiratory syncytial virus antigen and nucleic acid in clinical specimens using synthetic oligonucleotides

H A Cubie, J M Inglis, A M McGowan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Rapid detection of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS) was carried out on cytospin cell preparations using a directly labelled monoclonal antiserum to RS virus to detect viral antigen and digoxigenin-labelled synthetic oligonucleotides to detect viral nucleic acid. Sequences of 27 and 30 bases in length from within the fusion protein and nucleocapsid genes respectively were selected for use as probes. The oligonucleotide in situ hybridization test was easy to perform and could be completed within 24 hours, but antigen detection was much more rapid and more sensitive. During 1989-1990, more positive results were obtained by antigen detection (193) than by isolation (185), but of 43 confirmed RS-virus-positive specimens, only 21 (49%) were detected by ISH. Antigen detection remains the most suitable single method of rapid detection of RS virus for a diagnostic laboratory.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-35
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Virological Methods
Volume34
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1991

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Viral
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Detection of respiratory syncytial virus antigen and nucleic acid in clinical specimens using synthetic oligonucleotides'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this