Consistency of influenza A test results across respiratory specimen collection methods using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

In our prospective cohort study, we compared the performance of nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and nasal swabs for the detection of influenza using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Joint consideration of results from oropharyngeal and nasal swabs performed as well as nasopharyngeal alone as measured by sensitivity and noninferiority analysis.