As stated by World Health Organization (WHO) in their site, the information below which consist of laboratory tests for Influenza A H1N1 is updated by 21 May 2009. Then further diagnostic information wil be updated when available, accordingly.
The article started with specimen/sample collect which can be taken from deep nasal, nasopharingeal swab, nasopharingeal aspirate, and throat or bronchial aspirate. Then proceed to laboratory test into molecular diagnostic which available in using conventional and realtime PCR or CDC realtime RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) protocol, virus isolation and typing by haemagglutination inhibition or immunofluorescence, rapid tests or immunofluorescence, and serology test. There are detailed descriptions in how to interprete of those laboratory results.
If a laboratory has no capacity for diagnosing Human H1N1 Virus, it is recommended to send specimen to one of the WHO Collaborating Centres for influenza (WHOCCs). The article also describe sections of biosafety, testing algorithmic, good laboratory practices, validation, quality insurance, training of personel, facilities and handling areas, and equipment should be used and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Detailed read of An Updated Laboratory Tests for Diagnosing Human H1N1 Virus Article can be downloaded here, in 311 Kb pdf filetype (source: who.int)
