Laboratory Detection of Respiratory Viruses by Automated Techniques

Pérez-Ruiz, Mercedes; Pedrosa-Corral, Irene; Sanbonmatsu-Gámez, Sara; Navarro-Marí, José-María

Multiplex PCR assays have been the most widely used molecular methods for RV detection in laboratories of clinical virology capable of developing in-house and/or robust published protocols. The advantage with respect to monoplex PCR is the cost savings compared to multiple monoplex PCRs and an easier processing of runs. Indeed, multiplex PCR extends the portfolio of virological diagnostic methods. Although advantages are strong enough to compensate for any disadvantage, multiplex PCR have intrinsic inconveniences: as the number of targets increase, the possibility of losing sensitivity and specificity increases as well, due to competition among primers and viral targets that consequently yields unspecific PCR products. Indeed, multiplex PCR has to be optimized to ensure the adequate amplification of each viral genome. Multiplex PCR assays have demonstrated that co-detections of RV in a sample are a common event [29] . Whether these co-detections express true infections by all viruses and/or prolonged shedding of certain agents is difficult to demonstrate, although some authors have pointed out the role of co-detections of RV in the severity of the disease [30] . Table 1 shows the most important advantages and disadvantages of different methods for detection of RV.