Tweet
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2017 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/irv.12452. [Epub ahead of print]
Rethinking thresholds for serological evidence of influenza virus infection.
Zhao X1, Siegel K1, Chen MI1,2, Cook AR1.
Author information
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
For pathogens such as influenza that cause many sub-clinical cases, serologic data can be used to estimate attack rates and the severity of an epidemic in near real-time. Current methods for analysing serologic data tend to rely on use of a simple threshold or comparison of titers between pre- and post-epidemic, which may not accurately reflect actual infection rates.
METHODS:
We propose a method for quantifying infection rates using paired sera and bivariate probit models to evaluate the accuracy of thresholds currently used for influenza epidemics with low and high existing herd immunity levels, and a subsequent non-influenza period. Pre- and post-epidemic sera were taken from a cohort of adults in Singapore (n = 838). Bivariate probit models with latent titer levels were fit to the joint distribution of haemagglutination inhibition assay determined antibody titers using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation.
RESULTS:
Estimated attack rates were 15% (95% credible interval: 12% to 19%) for the first H1N1 pandemic wave. For a large outbreak due to a new strain, A threshold of 1:20 and a twofold rise (if pared sera is available) would result in a more accurate estimate of incidence.
CONCLUSION:
The approach presented here offers the basis for a reconsideration of methods used to assess diagnostic tests by both reconsidering the thresholds used and by analysing serological data with a novel statistical model. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Bayesian modelling; diagnostic tests; influenza; longitudinal multinomial ordinal probit model; pandemic H1N1; serologic tests
PMID: 28294578 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12452
Free full text
Rethinking thresholds for serological evidence of influenza virus infection.
Zhao X1, Siegel K1, Chen MI1,2, Cook AR1.
Author information
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
For pathogens such as influenza that cause many sub-clinical cases, serologic data can be used to estimate attack rates and the severity of an epidemic in near real-time. Current methods for analysing serologic data tend to rely on use of a simple threshold or comparison of titers between pre- and post-epidemic, which may not accurately reflect actual infection rates.
METHODS:
We propose a method for quantifying infection rates using paired sera and bivariate probit models to evaluate the accuracy of thresholds currently used for influenza epidemics with low and high existing herd immunity levels, and a subsequent non-influenza period. Pre- and post-epidemic sera were taken from a cohort of adults in Singapore (n = 838). Bivariate probit models with latent titer levels were fit to the joint distribution of haemagglutination inhibition assay determined antibody titers using Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation.
RESULTS:
Estimated attack rates were 15% (95% credible interval: 12% to 19%) for the first H1N1 pandemic wave. For a large outbreak due to a new strain, A threshold of 1:20 and a twofold rise (if pared sera is available) would result in a more accurate estimate of incidence.
CONCLUSION:
The approach presented here offers the basis for a reconsideration of methods used to assess diagnostic tests by both reconsidering the thresholds used and by analysing serological data with a novel statistical model. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Bayesian modelling; diagnostic tests; influenza; longitudinal multinomial ordinal probit model; pandemic H1N1; serologic tests
PMID: 28294578 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12452
Free full text