Journal of Clinical Virology - Volume 82 - Supplement 1 - September 2016

115 / 152

Abstracts / Journal of Clinical Virology 82S (2016) S1–S142 S111
NUTII regions and 43 in Algarve. In each NUTII the sample was
divided in 2 age groups: 20-29 years old and 30 to 44 years old.
Methods: Rubella specific IgG was detected in sera by enzyme-
linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFA) using commercial kits
(VIDAS® RUB IgG ii). The positive limit for this method is 15 IU/mL
Sera with results between 10 and 14 IU/mL should be interpreted
as equivocal and as negative those with values below 10 IU/mL.
Statistical analysis consisted in the determination of absolute
and relative frequencies.
Results: Of the 127 women studied 98 (77.2%) are Portuguese
origin 18 (14.2%) were not born in this country, and 11(8.6%) did not
answer this question. From these 122 (96.1%) had IgG antibodies
(≥ 15 IU/mL) to rubella virus, 1 (0.8%) present an equivocal result
(10 IU/mL to 14 IU/mL) and 4 (3.1%) were negative (<10 IU/mL).
The distribution of the number of women with a positive result
by NUTII showed a percentage of 95.2% (n = 40) seropositivewomen
to North and Lisbon and 97.7% (n = 42) to Algarve.
The results were also analyzed by age group taking into account
the history of rubella vaccination in Portugal. The age group 20–29
years old correspond to women that must have been vaccinated
with two doses of MMR vaccine while women aged 30 to 44 years
old includes thosewhomay have been immunisedwithMMR, those
who were vaccinated between 11 and 13 years old and those who
were naturally infected. This analysis showed that women aged 20
to 29 years old have a seroprevalence of 100% (33/33) to rubella
virus while the women aged 30 to 44 years old presented 94.7%
(89/94).
Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study showed a
high seroprevalence to rubella virus in women of childbearing age
and are similar to the results of the previous NSS 2000–2002. The
high seroprevalence found can be associated to values of vaccina-
tion coverage and effectiveness of rubella vaccine.
The NSS 2015–2016 is still ongoing and samples from others
regions and age groups are being collected and studied. A more
detailed analysis will be made after completion of the study. How-
ever despite these results, it is advisable that the knowledge of
rubella immune status before conception and possible vaccination
prior to pregnancy continues to be a recommended procedure in
order to prevent and eliminate congenital rubella.
Abstract no: 128
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Poster 182
Automation of Luminex NxTAG respiratory
pathogen panel
Pierre van Aarle ∗, Matt Phillips ,
Aaron Benfield
1 Luminex BV’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
2 Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, USA
Background: Diagnostic laboratories more and more shift from
traditional testingmethods to faster, more sensitive, andmore cost-
effective molecular methods because there is a continuous desire
to maximize productivity, improve workflow, optimize staff time,
and reduce the time to deliver results back to healthcare providers.
The novel LuminexNxTAGRespiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP), which
was recently CE-IVD marked, is a qualitative nucleic acid multi-
plex test that provides simultaneous detection and identification
of 19 viruses and 3 atypical bacteria associated with respiratory
tract infections. It is a ready to use system requiring very little
hands-on time and is performed in a closed PCR vessel, reducing the
chances of contamination. Nucleic acid is simply added directly to
pre-plated lyophilized reagents for RT-PCR and bead hybridization.
In this study the extraction part was further automated on
the Hamilton Microlab STAR platform and compared to the semi-
automated easyMAG extraction as outlined in the package insert.
Assay performance, hands-on time and overall turnaround-time
was compared.
Material/methods: Contrived samples were created by sus-
pending American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and Zeptometrix
control strains in Remel Micro Test M5 media, which were then
added to BD UVT to prepare a moderately positive sample for
extraction. A total of 6 replicates of each sample were extracted
across five Microlab STAR runs and subsequently tested using the
NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel. The same samples extracted on
the easyMAG instrument and tested using NxTAG RPP were used
as the comparator method.
Results: Microlab STAR and easyMAG workflows were evalu-
ated for 24, 48, 72 and 96 sample batches. The Microlab STAR
reduced hands-on time by 30.22, 68.08, 103.95, and 141.81min
respectively. While total assay time was slightly higher for the
Microlab STAR when running 24 samples compared to the easy-
MAG, actual hands-on time by the user was reduced by 31.22min.
Total assay time and hands-on time were reduced when compar-
ing 48, 72 and 96 sample run sizes on the Microlab STAR to a single
easyMAG. Samples extracted by the Microlab STAR resulted in the
correct qualitative results for all replicates across multiple NxTAG
RPP assay runs.
Conclusions: TheMicrolab STAR provides a considerable reduc-
tion in total NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel assay time as well
as hands-on time when >24 samples are run simultaneously and
only a single easyMAG instrument is available. In addition, no
changes to the NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel assay’s accu-
racy and precision were found when comparing the Microlab STAR
extracted samples to traditional methods. Furthermore sample
barcode-scanning, digital sample tracking, internal control liquid
handling and direct pipetting from the original sample container
eliminates points of user interaction that can lead to incorrect result
generation and reporting.
Abstract no: 15
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Poster 183
Comparison of viral and epidemiological
profiles among hospitalized children with
severe acute respiratory diseases in Beijing and
Shanghai
W. Tan ∗, Y. Zhao , R. Lu , N. Zhu
1 Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Ministry of
Health, National Institute for Viral Disease Control
and Prevention, China
2 CDC, Beijing 102206, China
Objective: To character the viral and epidemiological profiles
among hospitalized childrenwith severe acute respiratory diseases
(SARIs) in different areas of China.
Methods: Total 700 of NPA specimens, 259 from Beijing (North
of China) and 441 from Shanghai (South of China), were collected
fromhospitalized childrenwith acute respiratory diseases between
May 2008 and March 2014. Multiple respiratory viruses were
screened by validated PCR or real time RT-PCR and confirmed by
sequencing, including Flu A/B, ADV, RSV, PIC (RV/EV), PIV1-3, HCoV
(-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1), HBoV, hMPV. And
the demographic data and distribution of viral infections were also
analyzed.