Identification of Enteric Viruses in Oral Swabs from Children with Acute Gastroenteritis

Stool is the diagnostic specimen of choice to identify enteropathogens in pediatric gastroenteritis. However, stool collection is challenging and its diagnostic characteristics in patients with isolated vomiting are unknown. Therefore, we evaluated if oral swabs are a suitable alternative specimen to stool specimens. Seven-hundred and thirty-eight oral swabs and 577 stool specimens were collected from 738 children with vomiting and/or diarrhea. All specimens were tested by a laboratory-developed RT-qPCR Gastroenteritis Virus Panel (GVP) for virus identification; 150 oral swabs and 577 stool specimens were tested by the Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP).
Source: Journal of Molecular Diagnostics - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research