[Evaluation of 2 fast methods for the detection of rotaviruses in fecal samples].

BACKGROUND Rotavirus is one of the major causes of acute gastroenteritis in childhood. Several rapid methods for rotavirus detection are currently available, although their efficacy have a great variability. We performed a prospective study to evaluate two rapid tests for detection of rotavirus antigens in faeces. METHODS Using electron microscopy as the reference method, we compared two techniques for diagnosis of rotavirus infection: a monoclonal ELISA (Rotaclone, Cambridge Bioscencer, Worcester) and a policlonal latex agglutination (Diarlex, Orion Diagnostics, Finland). We tested, in parallel, 192 stools samples received in our laboratory to investigate rotavirus. RESULTS ELISA showed significantly better sensitivity than latex (100 vs 66.6%), while both methods had similar specificity (98.6%). CONCLUSIONS Of the tested methods, ELISA was superior due to the high sensibility and specificity, good reproductibility and easy interpretation. It also permits the simultaneous performance of several tests.