Open AccessResults of a pilot study using self‐collected mid‐turbinate nasal swabs for detection of influenza virus infection among pregnant women
Author(s) -
Thompson Mark G.,
Ferber Jeannette R.,
Odouli Roxana,
David Donna,
Shifflett Pat,
Meece Jennifer K.,
Naleway Allison L.,
Bozeman Sam,
Spencer Sarah M.,
Fry Alicia M.,
Li DeKun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12309
Subject(s) - medicine , virology , virus , covid-19 , influenza a virus , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease
Background We evaluated the feasibility of asking pregnant women to self‐collect and ship respiratory specimens. Methods In a preliminary laboratory study, we compared the RT ‐ PCR cycle threshold ( CT ) values of influenza A and B viruses incubated at 4 storage temperatures (from 4 to 35°C) for 6 time periods (8, 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours and 30 days), resulting in 24 conditions that were compared to an aliquot tested after standard freezing (−20°C) (baseline condition). In a subsequent pilot study, during January–February, 2014, we delivered respiratory specimen collection kits to 53 pregnant women with a medically attended acute respiratory illness using three delivery methods. Results CT values were stable after storage at temperatures <27°C for up to 72 hours for influenza A viruses and 48 hours for influenza B viruses. Of 53 women who received kits during the pilot, 89% collected and shipped nasal swabs as requested. However, 30% (14/47) of the women took over 2 days to collect and ship their specimen. The human control gene, ribonuclease P ( RN ase P), was detected in 100% of nasal swab specimens. However, the mean CT values for RN ase P (26·5, 95% confidence interval [ CI ] = 26·0–27·1) and for the 8 influenza A virus positives in our pilot (32·2, 95% CI = 28·9–35·5) were significantly higher than the CT s observed in our 2010–2012 study using staff‐collected nasal pharyngeal swabs ( P ‐values < 0·01). Discussion Self‐collection of respiratory specimens is a promising research method, but further research is needed to quantify the sensitivity and specificity of the approach.