New point of care test highly sensitive and specific for adenoviral conjunctivitis

Jan 29th – JAMA – AdenoPlus is highly sensitive (85-93%) and specific (96-98%) for adenoviral conjunctivitis when compared to cell culture and immunofluorescence assay.

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1. AdenoPlus is highly sensitive (90%) and specific (96%) for adenoviral conjunctivitis when compared to cell culture and immunofluorescence assay.

2. The test remains quite sensitive (85%) and specific (98%) when compared to PCR.

The AdenoPlus test was developed recently and approved by the FDA as a point-of-care test that can be used to accurately diagnose adenoviral conjunctivitis. Based on the data provided above, the AdenoPlus diagnostic appears to have high sensitivity and specificity for adenoviral detection. Accurately diagnosing adenoviral conjunctivitis can help reduce unnecessary medication prescriptions and precautions in addition to healthcare expenditures. Despite these findings, the decrease in sensitivity when compared to PCR is concerning, given the main role of this test in preventing misdiagnosis of adenoviral infection. Differences in sensitivity and specificity may be attributable to a difference in viral load in the three samples that were obtained. Unfortunately, AdenoPlus does not allow dividing a single sample, thereby leading to some uncertainty regarding viral load in the obtained samples. Nonetheless, the sensitivity and specificity of this test remain remarkably high.

Click to read the study in JAMA Ophthalmology

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1. AdenoPlus is highly sensitive (90%) and specific (96%) for adenoviral conjunctivitis when compared to cell culture and immunofluorescence assay.

2. The test remains quite sensitive (85%) and specific (98%) when compared to PCR.

This [prospective, masked] study: A total of 128 patients from eight different ophthalmic practices or academic centers were enrolled in this study. All patients met the clinical diagnostic criteria for viral conjunctivitis. Three tear specimens were obtained for the AdenoPlus point-of-care test, PCR, and cell culture-immunofluorescence assay. Sensitivity and specificity of the AdenoPlus assay were calculated. When compared with immunofluorescence and PCR, AdenoPlus showed a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 98%.

Further reading:  

1. Cost effectiveness of a point-of-care test for adenoviral conjunctivitis.

2. The RPS adeno detector for diagnosing adenoviral conjunctivitis.

In sum: The AdenoPlus test was developed recently and approved by the FDA as a point-of-care test that can be used to accurately diagnose adenoviral conjunctivitis. Based on the data provided above, the AdenoPlus diagnostic appears to have high sensitivity and specificity for adenoviral detection. Accurately diagnosing adenoviral conjunctivitis can help reduce unnecessary medication prescriptions and precautions in addition to healthcare expenditures. Despite these findings, the decrease in sensitivity when compared to PCR is concerning, given the main role of this test in preventing misdiagnosis of adenoviral infection. Differences in sensitivity and specificity may be attributable to a difference in viral load in the three samples that were obtained. Unfortunately, AdenoPlus does not allow dividing a single sample, thereby leading to some uncertainty regarding viral load in the obtained samples. Nonetheless, the sensitivity and specificity of this test remain remarkably high.

Click to read the study in JAMA Ophthalmology

By Swarup Swaminathan and Andrew Bishara

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