Specimen Collection

• Oropharyngeal swab specimens and lower respiratory tract specimens (bronchoalveolar lavage and tracheal aspirates) are preferred as they contain high viral loads.

• Nasopharyngeal swabs are also accepted but less preferred.

• Specimens are best collected within three days of illness.

• Swabs should have Dacron tip and aluminium or plastic shaft (not wooden). 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.