Comparison on real-time RT-PCR and ELISA methods in detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS) cases

Objective To compare the difference of the positive rates between real-time RT-PCR and ELISA-IgM methods in diagnosis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS) cases. Method 138 serum samples from 78 suspected acute SFTS patients were collected continuously in our hospital, 2014. And 91 serum samples from 49 confirmed cases were detected by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA-IgM, simultaneously. The results were analyzed by Software SPSS17.0. Result 138 serum samples were detected by the real-time RT-PCR and ELISA-IgM methods, and the positive rate was 51.45%, 43.48% respectively. There was significant difference between their positive rates (P<0.05). The courses of disease influenced the positive rates notablely in 49 confirmed cases between the real-time RT-PCR and ELISA-IgM assays. When the serum samples were collected within 8 days onset of illness to be detected, the positive rate of real-time RT-PCR method was higher than that of ELISA-IgM method. While the positive rate of ELISA-IgM showed a rising tendency along with the course extension. Conclusion Real-time RT-PCR would be the first choice for the early diagnosis of suspected SFTS cases. While ELISA-IgM methods could be the necessary supplemental assay and it would be the important diagnostic method as the extension of the course of SFTS. Key words: Thromboasthenia; Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; Enzyme-linked immunosorbeat assay