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J Clin Microbiol
. 2023 Oct 30:e0082723.
doi: 10.1128/jcm.00827-23. Online ahead of print. Multi-center clinical evaluation of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in nasopharyngeal swab specimens from symptomatic individuals
Anjana Sasidharan 1 , Rangaraj Selvarangan 1 , Kennah Konrad 2 , Matthew L Faron 2 , Salika M Shakir 3 , David Hillyard 3 , Robert K McCall 4 , Ian H McHardy 5 , David C Goldberg 6 , James J Dunn 7 , Alexander L Greninger 8 , Christine Lansang 9 , Rachel Bogh 9 , Carmelle V Remillard 9
Affiliations
The symptomology is overlapping for respiratory infections due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A/B viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Accurate detection is essential for proper medical management decisions. This study evaluated the clinical performance of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens from individuals of all ages with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection consistent with COVID-19, influenza, or RSV. Retrospective known-positive and prospectively obtained residual NPS specimens were collected during two respiratory seasons in the USA. Clinical performance was established by comparing Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu assay results to a three-molecular assay composite comparator interpretation for SARS-CoV-2 and to the FDA-cleared Panther Fusion Flu A/B/RSV assay results for all non-SARS-CoV-2 targets. A total of 1,900 prospective and 95 retrospective NPS specimens were included in the analyses. The overall prevalence in prospectively obtained specimens was 20.7% for SARS-CoV-2, 6.7% for influenza A, and 0.7% for RSV; all influenza B-positive specimens were retrospective specimens. The positive percent agreement of the Panther Fusion assay was 96.9% (378/390) for SARS-CoV-2, 98.0% (121/123) for influenza A virus, 95.2% (20/21) for influenza B virus, and 96.6% (57/59) for RSV. The negative percent agreement was ≥98.5% for all target viruses. Specimens with discordant Panther Fusion SARS/Flu/RSV assay results all had cycle threshold values of ≥32.4 (by comparator or by Panther Fusion SARS/Flu/RSV assay). Only five co-infections were detected in the study specimens. The Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV assay provides highly sensitive and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and RSV in NPS specimens.
Keywords: Panther Fusion; SARS-CoV-2; clinical agreement; influenza; molecular respiratory assay; multiplex assay; respiratory syncytial virus.
. 2023 Oct 30:e0082723.
doi: 10.1128/jcm.00827-23. Online ahead of print. Multi-center clinical evaluation of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in nasopharyngeal swab specimens from symptomatic individuals
Anjana Sasidharan 1 , Rangaraj Selvarangan 1 , Kennah Konrad 2 , Matthew L Faron 2 , Salika M Shakir 3 , David Hillyard 3 , Robert K McCall 4 , Ian H McHardy 5 , David C Goldberg 6 , James J Dunn 7 , Alexander L Greninger 8 , Christine Lansang 9 , Rachel Bogh 9 , Carmelle V Remillard 9
Affiliations
- PMID: 37902331
- DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00827-23
The symptomology is overlapping for respiratory infections due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A/B viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Accurate detection is essential for proper medical management decisions. This study evaluated the clinical performance of the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV assay in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens from individuals of all ages with signs and symptoms of respiratory infection consistent with COVID-19, influenza, or RSV. Retrospective known-positive and prospectively obtained residual NPS specimens were collected during two respiratory seasons in the USA. Clinical performance was established by comparing Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu assay results to a three-molecular assay composite comparator interpretation for SARS-CoV-2 and to the FDA-cleared Panther Fusion Flu A/B/RSV assay results for all non-SARS-CoV-2 targets. A total of 1,900 prospective and 95 retrospective NPS specimens were included in the analyses. The overall prevalence in prospectively obtained specimens was 20.7% for SARS-CoV-2, 6.7% for influenza A, and 0.7% for RSV; all influenza B-positive specimens were retrospective specimens. The positive percent agreement of the Panther Fusion assay was 96.9% (378/390) for SARS-CoV-2, 98.0% (121/123) for influenza A virus, 95.2% (20/21) for influenza B virus, and 96.6% (57/59) for RSV. The negative percent agreement was ≥98.5% for all target viruses. Specimens with discordant Panther Fusion SARS/Flu/RSV assay results all had cycle threshold values of ≥32.4 (by comparator or by Panther Fusion SARS/Flu/RSV assay). Only five co-infections were detected in the study specimens. The Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV assay provides highly sensitive and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and RSV in NPS specimens.
Keywords: Panther Fusion; SARS-CoV-2; clinical agreement; influenza; molecular respiratory assay; multiplex assay; respiratory syncytial virus.