The Rhino-Probe nasal curette for detecting respiratory syncytial virus in children

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1993 Apr;12(4):326-9. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199304000-00012.

Abstract

During two outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, 68 children with acute respiratory illnesses were cultured for RSV using a Rhino-Probe (RP) nasal curette and either a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or a nasal wash (NW). In the first outbreak isolations of RSV by the RP nasal curette and NP swab methods were compared. RSV was cultured from 25 of 42 (60%) subjects using the RP nasal curette and from 20 of 42 (48%) subjects using the NP swab. In the second outbreak the RP nasal curette and the NW collection techniques were compared. RSV was isolated from 15 of 26 (58%) children evaluated. RSV was cultured from 14 of 15 (93%) patients by RP and 13 of 15 (87%) when using NW. In the group of culture-positive subjects, the TESTPACK RSV rapid antigen test was positive in 10 of 15 (67%) using the RP and in 6 of 15 (40%) using the NW. Like the NP swab the RP nasal curette was simple, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive, yet it was as sensitive as the NW for detection of RSV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology*
  • Respirovirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Specimen Handling / instrumentation*