Targeted management of influenza A/B outbreaks incorporating the cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV into the virology laboratory

C F Lowe; V Leung; L Karakas; L Merrick; T Lawson; M G Romney; G Ritchie; M Payne; Providence Health Care Infection Prevention and Control Team

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2018.08.014

Targeted management of influenza A/B outbreaks incorporating the cobas^® Influenza A/B & RSV into the virology laboratory

J Hosp Infect. 2019 Jan;101(1):38-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.08.014. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Authors

C F Lowe¹, V Leung², L Karakas³, L Merrick³, T Lawson³, M G Romney⁴, G Ritchie⁴, M Payne²; Providence Health Care Infection Prevention and Control Team

Affiliations

¹ Division of Medical Microbiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Infection Prevention and Control, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Division of Medical Microbiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Infection Prevention and Control, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
³ Division of Medical Microbiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Division of Medical Microbiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

PMID: 30171885
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.08.014

Abstract

During the 2017/18 influenza season, the authors' virology laboratory implemented the cobas^® Influenza A/B & RSV (Roche Molecular Diagnostics, Pleasanton, CA, USA) for influenza outbreak management in two scenarios: initial outbreak investigation or at outbreak conclusion to avoid prolonged measures. Twenty-seven investigations were conducted, including declaration of 11 influenza A/B outbreaks. Thirty percent of investigations would have missed the standard batched daily laboratory-developed respiratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and delayed outbreak confirmation until the following day. The average reduction in turnaround time for influenza A/B testing was 10.2 h. A rapid molecular PCR in specific outbreak scenarios improved timely management of influenza outbreaks.

Keywords: Influenza A/B; Outbreak; Rapid PCR; Virology.

MeSH terms

Disease Management*
Disease Outbreaks*
Humans
Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / diagnosis*
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human