Rotavirus Antigen, Rapid Assay, Stool
ID: LAB443
Last Review: 01/28/2026
Components
Rotavirus Antigen
 
Specimen Sources
Stool
Collection Requirements
ACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN: Feces

Collect specimen as follows:
1. Collect feces in a clean container not contaminated with urine, residual soap, or disinfectants. A diaper may be used for collection but the specimen must be transferred to a specimen cup before submitting to the laboratory.
2. Submit at least 1 mL or 1 gm of specimen to the laboratory in a clean dry tightly-capped specimen cup.


Test is available for pediatric patients aged 6 months to 3 years only during season - January - May. Testing will be performed throughout the year on SCID or bone marrow transplant patients.

Not Applicable

Causes for Rejection:
1. Specimen not labeled with patient's name, MRN, date and time of collection, and collector's initials.
2. Specimen received in diaper.
3. Specimen excessively bloody.
4. Specimen dried out.
5. Patient older than 3 years except Bone Marrow Transplant and SCIDS patients.
6. Request submitted out-of-season (generally January - May) except Bone Marrow Transplant and SCIDS patients.
Shipping And Handling
DELIVER IMMEDIATELY TO MICROBIOLOGY IN A STERILE TIGHTLY SEALED CONTAINER WITH NO EXTERNAL SPILLAGE.

REFRIGERATE SPECIMEN IF TRANSPORT IS DELAYED

Causes for Rejection:
1. Specimen container leaking.
Turn Around Time (TATs for Specific Labs Below May Differ)
Turn Around Time:
  • ASAP: 3 Day(s)
  • STAT: 3 Day(s)
  • ROUTINE: 3 Day(s)
Performing Labs, Collection Containers and TATs
▷  Duke Microbiology Laboratory
Clinical Indications
Used to aid in the diagnosis of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children ranging in age from 6 months to 3 years during the season, which generally runs January through May.
Clinical Significance
Rotavirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis, especially in children 6 to 24 months of age.  Rotavirus infections can also produce severe illness as well as asymptomatic infection in adults.  The incubation period of rotavirus infection is usually one to three days, followed by gastroenteritis with an average duration of five to eight days.  Virus titers in stool reach a maximum level shortly after the onset of illness, and then decline.



Due to inadequacies in existing culture methods, human rotavirus is not routinely isolated from rotavirus-containing specimens.  For many years, electron microscopy has been the standard method for rotavirus detection.  However, newly introduced enzyme immunoassays and latex agglutination assays with increased sensitivities and specificities are now the method of choice.



Sensitivity and specificity of the method in use are 93% and 95.8% respectively as compared to electron microscopy.   This test is available only during the rotavirus season, which generally runs January - May - with a positive predictive value of 96%.  Limit of detection in stool specimens is 1.8-3.7 X 10X6 rotavirus particles per test volume.  A positive result does not preclude the presence of other infective organisms.  During cooler months, rotavirus may account for approximately 50% or more of the gastroenteritis found in hospitalized children.



Testing will be performed throughout the year on SCID or bone marrow transplant patients. Bone marrow transplant patients are immunocompromised and like SCIDS may harbor the virus for long periods after they become infected (in season).  Repeat testing following a negative test during the off season is of limited value and not recommended.
Limitations
Specimens containing high levels of blood may result in an invalid test.
Methodology
Rapid immunoassay (qualitative) for the detection of rotavirus antigen in human stool.
Critical Values
No Critical Values