[A comparative study of direct immunofluorescence, enzyme immunoassay, and culture for diagnosing metapneumovirus infection].

Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children, accounting for 14% to 24% of all viral respiratory infections with an etiological diagnosis. This study compares a direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and shell-vial culture for diagnosing acute bronchiolitis in infants.

Methods: A total of 124 nasopharyngeal aspirates from 108 infants with lower respiratory tract infection were analyzed.