title: Enhancing the predictive value of throat swabs in virological influenza surveillance.
abstract: According to a national survey in Germany, the influenza virological surveillance can be improved when sentinel practitioners take throat swabs specimens only from patients who consult early after the disease onset (ie, within 48 hours), and when they use the strict clinical case definition of influenza-like illness. PCR should be used for primary detection of influenza viruses.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leitmeyer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schweiger
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012621:Seasons; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods