Nucleic acid detection and quantitative analysis of influenza virus using exhaled breath condensate

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is increasingly being used as a non-invasive method for disease
diagnosis and environmental exposure assessment. We previously detected the nucleic acids of
bacterial pathogens in EBC. Influenza viruses can be transmitted through aerosols during coughing
and exhaling. Existing detection methods for influenza have various limitations. The EBC collection
method is convenient, non-invasive, and reduces the risk of exposure. We investigated the detection
of influenza virus in EBC using a sensitive nucleic acid testing method and performed quantitative
analysis to evaluate the present and content of influenza virus in the breath. We evaluated 30
patients with respiratory tract infection during the 2019 influenza season. The clinical data and
samples of nasal swabs were collected for rapid influenza diagnostic (antigen) tests. Pharyngeal
swab and EBC samples were used for influenza virus nucleic acid detection. Each EBC sample was
assessed twice as well...

Source: Journal of Breath Research - January 12, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Xiaoguang Li, Minfei Wang, Jing Chen, Fei Lin and Wei Wang Source Type: research