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Testing for the
Novel Influenza A Virus H1N1 (Swine Flu) is done by real time PCR
from clinical specimens.
For complete information
regarding testing for H1N1 virus, please go to the
CDC website.
Specimen
Collection
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Nasopharyngeal swab (Flocked swab - Avoid COTTON swabs on wooden sticks) specimens are highly recommended. Insert swab into nostril
and advance gently up the nose, along the base of the nasal cavity, for a few centimetres.
Rotate swab a bit against the sides of the nasal cavity, then withdraw gently. Store in UTM (Universal Transport Medium)
and keep refrigerated.
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Nasal or Throat swabs can also be used.;
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Flocked swabs are preferred for specimen collection,
but any swab may be used as long as it is not cotton, and not on a wooden stick.
Specimens should be kept refrigerated.
Viral transport media are
suggested to be used for swabs.
For reverse transcriptase
PCR, nucleic acid extraction lysis buffer can be added to specimens
before refrigeration and sent to laboratory on ice.
Influenza virus is an RNA
virus and so it is important to keep all samples in a cool place and
maintained as such even during transport in order to maintain
integrity of RNA.
Turnaround time
1 working day.
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