Utility of the rapid antigen detection BinaxNOW Influenza A&B test for detection of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus

Nasopharyngeal aspirates, collected during outbreaks, of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Barcelona, were used to compare the accuracy of a rapid antigen-based test (Binax) with the real-time RT-PCR assay developed by the CDC. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of the rapid test are higher in patients less than 18 years old and during the acute stage of the epidemic than in adult patients.