Evaluation of the reverse transcription strand invasion based amplification (RT-SIBA) RSV assay, a rapid molecular assay for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory infections. Rapid RSV diagnosis has an impact on patient management. In a newly developed molecular assay, named reverse transcription strand invasion based amplification (RT-SIBA) RSV assay, RSV RNA is reverse transcribed to cDNA and amplified and detected under isothermal reaction conditions. The performance of this assay was evaluated. Respiratory samples that tested positive (n = 81) or negative (n = 61) for RSV with the multiplex RT-PCR Anyplex II RV16 Detection Kit (Anyplex) were analyzed with the RT-SIBA assay. Discordant samples were tested with the GeneXpert Flu/RSV XC assay. Consistent results in at least 2 of the 3 methods were defined as reference standard. The RT-SIBA assay yielded a negative result for the 61 negative samples and a positive result in 71/81 (85.5%) of the Anyplex positive samples. After a resolution of discordant samples, the positive and negative percent agreement of the RT-SIBA assay were 92% and 100%, respectively. The RT-SIBA assay is a rapid molecular assay for the detection of RSV with good performance in clinical specimens.