VIROLOGY Virus
Influenza A Influenza A RSV A RSV B
Week 1 17.23 19.86 22.94 22.15
Week 10 23.0
20.75 22.01 21.01
Table 2. Ct results for molecular analysis of influenza (A and B), RSV A and RSV B specimens carried out at week 1 and week 10.
testing, except for influenza A. For influenza A, there is Ct increase of 5.77 from week one compared to week 10, suggesting degradation occurred in the nucleic acid (Table 2).
Discussion Specimens were made in VTM to best suit the needs of a POC setting. An increased degradation was observed during antigen testing at 37°C, likely due to the increased enzyme activity at higher temperatures.
The stability study confirmed that viability and efficacy of all the selected viruses was maintained to an acceptable and detectable level throughout the duration of the stability study for both the antigen and molecular testing. This suggests that the Respiratory Viruses POC EQA is suitable for a POC setting and
laboratories that carry out antigen and molecular testing to identify respiratory viruses.
Conclusions There is a clinical need for a POC EQA for the detection of respiratory viruses. Owing to the changes in working practices for POC testing, as well as the recent changes to ISO 15189 concerning POC testing, an EQA incorporating antigen and molecular testing for respiratory viruses will be useful. The UK NEQAS Respiratory Viruses POC EQA will address these requirements.
n The authors wish to thank the UK NEQAS for Microbiology team at UKHSA Colindale for their work in the development of this new EQA scheme. Thanks also to the external laboratories
that participated in the questionnaire and pilot distributions.
References 1 Clark TW, Lindsley K, Wigmosta TB et al.
Rapid multiplex PCR for respiratory viruses reduces time to result and improves clinical care: Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Infect. 2023 May; 86 (5): 462–75. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2023.03.005.
2 Burki TK. Circulation of influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2: An uncertain season ahead. Lancet Respir Med. 2021 Oct; 9 (10): e103. doi:10.1016/s2213-2600(21)00364-7.
3 Leung NH. Transmissibility and transmission of respiratory viruses. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2021 Aug; 19 (8): 528–45. doi:10.1038/s41579-021-00535-6.
4 United Kingdom Accreditation Service. Point of care testing (POCT) accreditation. UKAS 2023. (
https://www.ukas.com/ accreditation/standards/poct/).
Mohammed Islam, Rhiannon Weale, Marit Orav, Habib Seyedzadeh and Sanjiv Rughooputh.
UK NEQAS for Microbiology, UK Health Security Agency, London.
This article is based on a poster presented at the IBMS Congress 2023 event, held last September at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
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