{"doi":"10.1016/j.jcv.2025.105874","title":"Design and performance of a real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of influenza C viruses","abstract":"Influenza C virus (ICV) usually causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection in children and those infected are frequently co-infected with other respiratory viruses. However, there have only been a few hundred documented cases of ICV infection in humans as of the end of 2024. To better understand the epidemiology and clinical impact of ICVs, we developed an influenza C real-time RT-PCR (InfC rRT-PCR) assay that targets a highly conserved region of the matrix gene segment of ICVs. The analytical sensitivity evaluation demonstrated that the InfC rRT-PCR assay was highly sensitive, as it was able to detect as few as five RNA copies per PCR reaction and had robust reactivity over a range of viral RNAs from historical and recent ICVs. The analytical specificity evaluation confirmed the assay did not cross-react with any influenza A or B viruses tested, including several animal-origin viruses, or other common non-influenza respiratory viruses. The performance evaluation on clinical specimens demonstrated the assay was highly sensitive and specific for the detection of ICVs. • Universal Detection : The real-time RT-PCR assay was developed targeting a highly conserved region of the matrix gene to allow universal detection of influenza C viruses. • Standardized Conditions : The influenza C real-time RT-PCR reaction and thermocycling conditions are consistent with the current CDC Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel for the qualitative detection and characterization of influenza virus types and subtypes. • High Performance : The influenza C real-time RT-PCR assay exhibits high sensitivity and specificity, ensuring reliable detection of influenza C viruses. • Effective method : The influenza C real-time RT-PCR primers and probes have been provided to many laboratories to support several influenza C virus investigations and surveillance projects national and internationally.","journal":"Journal of Clinical Virology","year":2025,"id":576105,"datarank":0.0,"base_score":0.0,"endowment":0.0,"self_citation_contribution":0.0,"citation_network_contribution":0.0,"self_endowment_contribution":0.0,"citer_contribution":0.0,"corpus_percentile":null,"corpus_rank":null,"citation_count":0,"citer_count":0,"citers_with_citation_signal":0,"citers_with_endowment":0,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_dataset_confidence":0.9639,"is_data_producer":false,"deposit_databanks":null,"is_oa":true,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"2025-01-01","fair_score":null,"fair_percentile":null,"algorithm_id":"datarank_citation_only_1hop_v6","ranking_scope":"data_only","authors":[{"id":1485018,"name":"William G. Davis","orcid":null,"position":1,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1484693,"name":"Ji Liu","orcid":"0000-0003-2496-9521","position":2,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":395900,"name":"Beth K Thielen","orcid":"0000-0001-5922-0241","position":3,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":396674,"name":"Sarah Bistodeau","orcid":null,"position":4,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":225074,"name":"Brian Lynch","orcid":"0000-0003-4155-7182","position":5,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1485019,"name":"Christine Warnes","orcid":null,"position":6,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1209990,"name":"Jimma Liddell","orcid":"0009-0007-0226-5183","position":7,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":396677,"name":"Anna K. Strain","orcid":null,"position":8,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":396675,"name":"Jaime Christensen","orcid":null,"position":9,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":547261,"name":"Phili Wong","orcid":null,"position":10,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1364208,"name":"Natasha Burnett","orcid":null,"position":11,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":701548,"name":"Todd Davis","orcid":null,"position":12,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":840176,"name":"Marie K. Kirby","orcid":"0000-0003-0859-9604","position":13,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":1484692,"name":"Bo Shu","orcid":"0000-0003-3443-8310","position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":21,"raw_metadata":null,"created_at":"2026-07-19T02:57:56.636458Z","pmid":"41033150","pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"fair_f":null,"fair_a":null,"fair_i":null,"fair_r":null,"fair_zscore":null,"fair_rationale":null,"fair_model":null,"fair_agent_version":null,"fair_fulltext_source":null,"fair_has_llm":null,"fair_computed_at":null,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}