Table 5.

Comparison of selected characteristics of direct fluorescent antibody, laboratory developed real-time PCR, and FDA-approved respiratory panel assays.

Characteristic	DFAa	LDAb	XTAG	Prodesse	FilmArray
Rapid turnaround time for 1 sample	+++	++	+	++	+++
Ease of use	+	++	++	++	+++
Throughput	++	+++	+++	+++	+
Small laboratory footprint	+++	++	+	++	+++
Low cost	+++	++	+	+	+
Sensitivity	+	+++	+++	+++	+++
Quantitative result	+	+++	+	+++	+

^aDFA = Direct fluorescent antibody.

^bLDA = Laboratory developed assay.