[Value of rapid diagnostic methods in rotavirus infection in the neonatal period].

One hundred and forty eight faecal specimens were collected from 40 newborn infants during an outbreak of rotavirus infections in a neonatal unit. Rotavirus was sought every 3 days by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) and was found in 12 newborn babies. Rotavirus excretion persisted for up to 6 days after healing of the diarrhoea. No significant difference was found between infected (n = 12) and uninfected (n = 28) infants with regard to gestational age (35.2 +/- 3.7 vs 36.9 +/- 2.6 weeks), birth weight (2,064 +/- 693 vs 2,197 +/- 529 g), and postnatal ages at the time of the outbreak. The 148 stool specimens were analysed by IEM considered the reference technique and compared with two ELISA methods, and three Latex methods. Rotavirus was identified by IEM in 20 stools. Equivocal results were observed with Slidex Rotakit Polyclonal (16.9%), Slidex Rotakit Monoclonal (2.7%) and Rotalex (13.8%). The positive and negative predictive values were respectively 87.5% and 96.9% for the Slidex Rotakit Monoclonal test, 86.7% and 94.7% for the Rotazyme II test, 100% and 95.5% for the ELISA monoclonal test.