lnfluenza A/B Antigen Rapid Test

Summary and Explanation of lnfluenza A/B Antigen Rapid Test

Influenza (commonly known as 'flu') is a highly contagious, acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is a communicable disease easily transmitted through the coughing and sneezing of aerosolized droplets containing live virus.

Influenza outbreaks occur each year during the fall and winter months. Type A viruses are typically more prevalent than type B viruses and are 

associated with most serious influenza epidemics, while type B infections are usually milder. The gold standard of laboratory diagnosis is 14-day cell 

culture with one of a variety of cell lines that can support the growth of influenza virus.

Cell culture has limited clinical utility, as results are obtained too late in the clinical course for effective patient intervention. Reverse Transcriptase 

Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is a newer method that is generally more sensitive than culture with improved detection rates over culture of 2-

23%.

However, RT-PCR is expensive, complex and must be performed in specialized laboratories.

The Influenza A+B RapiCard Test (Swab/Nasal Aspirate) qualitatively detects the presence of Influenza A and/or Influenza B antigen in nasal swab or

throat swab or nasal aspirate specimens, providing results within 15 minutes. The test uses antibodies specific for Influenza A and Influenza B to

selectively detect Influenza A and Influenza B antigen in nasal swab, throat swab or nasal aspirate specimens.

Principle of lnfluenza A/B Antigen Rapid Test

The Influenza A+B RapiCard (Swab/Nasal Aspirate) is a qualitative, lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of Influenza A and Influenza B nucleoproteins in nasal swab, throat swab or nasal aspirate specimens. In this test, antibodies specific to the Influenza A and Influenza B nucleoproteins are separately coated on the test line regions of the test card. During testing, the extracted specimen reacts with the antibodies to Influenza A and/or Influenza B that are coated onto particles. The mixture migrates up the membrane to react with the antibodies to Influenza A and/or Influenza B on the membrane and generate one or two colored lines in the test regions. The presence of this colored line in either or both of the test regions indicates a positive result. To serve as a procedural control, a colored line will always appear in the control region if the test has been performed properly.

REAGENTS

The test card contains anti-Influenza A and B particles and antiInfluenza A and B coated on the membrane.