Quantitative analysis of four rapid antigen assays for detection of pandemic H1N1 2009 compared with seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses on nasopharyngeal aspirates from patients with influenza

► It is essential to define diagnostic performance of rapid influenza detection kits. ► The rapid kits had lower sensitivity for diagnosis of H1pdm09 than seasonal flu. ► Direct immunofluorescence test also showed similar finding. ► Lower sensitivity of the rapid kits is related to lower viral load in the patients. ► The detection limit of the rapid kits in clinical specimens was 1 × 107 copies/ml.