Rapid multiplex PCR assays in patients with respiratory viral infections: is semi-quantitative data useful? A pilot study

Viral respiratory rapid multiplex PCR assays FilmArray (R) (FA) and ePlex (R) (eP) provide qualitative results which may not reflect clinical relevance. In a pilot study, we report retrospectively whether the semi-quantitative PCR assay R-GENE (R) would have facilitated clinical interpretation. Forty-four patients were hospitalized for various respiratory manifestations; all of them have benefited from a respiratory sample during acute symptoms. Among the 44 patients, FA detected 23 positive samples including 31 viruses, 26 of them gave high or moderate R-GENE (R) scores (cycle threshold < 35), and all but one were consistent with clinical history. Semi-quantitative scores would have allowed for critical interpretation of the results; those are a key additional element for an optimal exploitation of the rapid multiplex PCR assays power.

Automated summary

Semi-quantitative PCR assay results can facilitate clinical interpretation of viral respiratory rapid multiplex PCR assays and critical evaluation of the results.