What to know
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has guidance for public health, clinical, and commercial laboratories that can test for novel influenza A viruses.
- This includes information on collecting, packaging, transporting, submitting and storing specimens, preferred clinical specimens, testing techniques and confirmatory testing.
Public Health and Clinical Laboratories
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø recommends specific surveillance efforts by state and local health departments, hospitals, and clinicians among people at increased risk of exposure to novel influenza A viruses.
Commercial Laboratories
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has partnered with some commercial laboratories to expand influenza A(H5) testing capacity in the United States. A listing of and information for these laboratory testing companies is available.
Keep Reading:
Commercial Laboratories: Novel Influenza A Virus Testing
Specimen Submission
Instructions for shipment and packaging of clinical specimens for clinical, public health, and commercial laboratories for novel influenza A virus testing.
Keep Reading:
Submitting Specimens for Novel Influenza A Virus Testing
Guidelines for Laboratory Biosafety
Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Novel Influenza A Viruses, Including Potential A(H5N1) Virus
Biosafety guidance for clinical laboratory and support staff who handle, or process specimens potentially containing Novel Influenza A viruses, including potential A(H5N1) viruses.
- Exposure, especially unprotected exposure (e.g., without use of respiratory protection and eye protection) may include: direct contact with birds (e.g., handling, slaughtering, defeathering, butchering, preparation for consumption); or direct contact with surfaces contaminated with feces or bird parts (carcasses, internal organs, etc.); or prolonged close exposure to birds.
- For questions or concerns about possible human infection in patients with exposures to birds not listed here, please contact ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø. Exposures that occur in geographic regions in the United States where newly detected HPAI A(H5) viruses have been identified are of most concern.
- Influenza A viruses that normally circulate in pigs are termed “variant viruses” when identified in infected humans.