2021 Volume 70 Issue 1 Pages 116-122
Arkray Co. released an influenza virus antigen detection kit “SPOTCHEM FLORA FluAB” and the dedicated immunofluorescence analyzer “SPOTCHEM FLORA”. The kit uses a europium fluorescent latex-bound antibody in the reagent, and it detects the antigen using a new signal detection method is analyzed by a new signal detection method called time-resolved fluorescence assay. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a rapid test system for influenza virus antigens using Spotchem FLORA SF-5520, which can process three samples in parallel. From this study, we show that the system has good performance for within-run and between-day precisions and can produce stable results. Then, we determined whether blood contamination has a low impact on the test results of the system. The system provided accurate results in the case of samples with low amounts of the viral antigen, including blood contamination of up to 1%. In addition, we found that the system has higher detection sensitivity than a visual judgment kit and can provide results much faster than another system that has an equivalent high sensitivity. The system can measure rapidly and has high sensitivity and can also provide results automatically. It brings great benefits to the measurer, patient, and clinical site. In conclusion, we can say that it is very useful to introduce this system for influenza diagnosis.
