Value of rapid testing for influenza among Hajj pilgrims

Harunor Rashid*, Shuja Shafi, Elizabeth Haworth, Haitham El Bashir, Kamal A. Ali, Ziad A. Memish, Robert Booy

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Muslim pilgrims going on the Hajj are at risk of influenza. The treatment and prevention of influenza with antiviral drugs depends on rapid diagnosis using a near-patient test such as the QuickVue influenza test. The suitability of this test among pilgrims has not been studied in the past and this study assesses the usefulness of the test for diagnosing influenza among those attending the Hajj. Methods: The sensitivity and specificity of the QuickVue test were measured against reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction by undertaking the tests on nasal swab samples from pilgrims. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the QuickVue test were 22% and 99%, respectively, and its likelihood ratio for a positive and a negative test were 22 and 0.79 in that order. Conclusion: The QuickVue influenza test using nasal swabs is poorly sensitive for diagnosing influenza among Hajj pilgrims. Given its high specificity and an even higher likelihood ratio for a positive test it may still be a very useful tool for influenza surveillance at the Hajj.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)310-313
    Number of pages4
    JournalTravel Medicine and Infectious Disease
    Volume5
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    The authors thank staff at London South Specialist Virology Centre & Respiratory Virus Unit, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, for performing the PCR tests. This study was supported by a grant from Department of Health, UK.

    Keywords

    • Muslims
    • Near-patient test
    • RT-PCR
    • Sensitivity
    • Specificity

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