Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, subfamily Pneumovirinae, which cause acute upper respiratory tract infections in patients of all ages. It was the third most frequently identified respiratory viral pathogens in our patient population during the 2009 season. Perhaps most importantly, hMPV commonly causes severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and children, including bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This sensitive PCR test has been validated on both upper and lower respiratory tract specimens.
