Laboratory Detection of Respiratory Viruses by Automated Techniques

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

Accurate and timely diagnosis of viral ARI has additional benefits as preventing unnecessary use of antibiotics, thus, decreasing the overall costs of treatments and minimizing the selection of resistant organisms. Moreover, specific antiviral therapy is recommended for treating certain risk groups with Flu and RSV infection. Neuraminidase inhibitors are recommended in patients with suspected or confirmed Flu who require hospitalisation and/or in high-risk groups. Early treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors has demonstrated to decrease the risk of complications, to reduce the duration of the disease and to improve outcome [54] . Ribavirin is approved for the treatment of hospitalised infants, young children and immunocompromised adults with severe lower respiratory tract infections due to RSV, despite the limited evidence of benefit [58, 59] . New automated assays may improve point-of-care diagnosis of RV since they include a wider range of pathogens within the same kit. In future, automated NAAT may be the alternative of antigen detection methods if costs become comparable and a reduction of turnaround time is achieved.