İdentification of respiratory pathogen viruses and Influenza A H1N1 (Swine flu) by multiplex PCR assay

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral respiratory infections is important for providing timely therapeutic interventions. This study evaluated a new multiplex PZR assay (Seegene Inc., Seoul, Korea) for simultaneous detection and identification of 12 respiratory viruses using two primer mixes. The viruses included parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, and 3, human metapneumovirus, human coronavirus 229E/NL63 and OC43, adenovirus, influenza viruses A and B, human respiratory syncytial viruses(RSV) A and B, and human rhinovirus A. The aim of the study is to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of acute viral respiratory infection in hospitalised Turkish children and few adults, Afyon/Turkey.One hundred-seventy patient samples (nasopharyngeal swabs) were collected with flocked swabs and transported in UTM (Copan diagnostics) from November'2009 to May'2010. These frezed to 40oC before being shipped on dry ice for batch testing. Some of the samples tested with the QuickVue ® Influenza A + B flu Dipstick in terms of A and B. mRT-PZRs for the detection of 12 respiratory viruses (Seeplex® RV detection kit, SeeGene, Seoul, Korea) were tested with frozen specimens.mRT-PZR detected causative viruses in 39 patients (33%), including 3 co-infected cases. A total of 39 viruses were identified: RSV A/B (35% 21%), influenza virus A/B (3%), human metapneumovirus (3%), adenovirus- RSV B (3%), rhinovirus (27%), and coronavirus OC43 (3%). One of influenza A, confirmed as H1N1 in the reference laboratory later.Multiplex PCR method in the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections in children caused by respiratory viral pathogens is understood that the method is very fast and reliable.