| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1806-1808 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 206 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs |
|
| State | Published - Dec 15 2012 |
Funding
This study is important in that it pro vides us with useful data to help plan future clinical studies of influenza antivirals. In this study, viral load assessment demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the treatment arms at days 3 and 5 which could not be demonstrated utilizing routine cell culture-based techniques. These data are not surprising since other studies suggest that PCR provides a greater dynamic range and improved sensitivity, particularly at the lower limits of detection [22]. Although there is still controversy about the specific meaning of low-level PCR positivity, molecular methods provide a reliable and robust technology that improves the ability to discern virologic differences between treatment groups. As such, these data provide further evidence that PCR should be considered an important endpoint in influenza antiviral studies, particularly in settings where clinical endpoints have not been validated [22]. Three ongoing studies sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Clini-calTrials.gov numbers NCT01052480, NCT01227967, and NCT01314911) will hopefully define the role of virologic endpoints in studies of influenza antivirals while also standardizing and validating virologic endpoints in a range of clinical settings.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine
