Specimen collection and viral testing
Nasal and throat swabs were collected from hospitalized infants and
combined into transport medium (M4RT®, Remel),
aliquoted into MagMAXTM Lysis/Binding Solution
Concentrate (Life Technologies), snap frozen, and stored at -80°C.
Original and lysis buffer aliquots were shipped to VUMC on dry ice and
were tested using qRT-PCR assays directed at primers and probes as
previously published for the following respiratory viruses: RSV15 , HRV16, HMPV17, influenza A and B18, PIV 1, 2 and 3,
adenovirus, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)19.