An evaluation of the RIDASCREEN and IDEIA enzyme immunoassays and the RIDAQUICK immunochromatographic test for the detection of norovirus in faecal specimens

BackgroundThe detection of norovirus by ELISA and immunochromatographic methods may facilitate epidemiological studies into the global disease burden associated with norovirus gastroenteritis and provide a quick method of testing for norovirus infection.ObjectivesTo evaluate the new RIDASCREEN norovirus ELISA (3rd generation) and RIDAQUICK norovirus immunochromatographic test on a collection of samples from Brazilian children with acute gastroenteritis, and compare them against the established 2nd generation IDEIA norovirus assay.Study designReverse transcriptase PCR, the study reference standard, was used to test 726 specimens for the presence of norovirus. All 96 norovirus positive samples and a systematic selection of negative samples were tested by RIDASCREEN, RIDAQUICK and IDEIA norovirus tests.ResultsThe sensitivity of RIDASCREEN for the detection of norovirus was 63% (95% CI: 53–72%) and RIDAQUICK 69% (95% CI: 58–78%); both were >98% specific. The IDEIA had a sensitivity of 45% (95% CI: 35–55%), significantly lower than RIDASCREEN and RIDAQUICK (p ≤ 0.01). The sensitivity of RIDASCREEN and RIDAQUICK in detecting GII.4 noroviruses, the principal norovirus strain identified in community and nosocomial infection globally, was 78% and 88% respectively.ConclusionThe norovirus RIDASCREEN test may be useful in epidemiological studies of norovirus infection and the norovirus RIDAQUICK test offers an accurate and rapid method of detecting norovirus infection.