Diagnostic approach for the differentiation of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus from recent human influenza viruses by real-time PCR.
BACKGROUND
The current spread of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus necessitates an intensified surveillance of influenza virus infections worldwide. So far, in many laboratories routine diagnostics were limited to generic influenza virus detection only. To provide interested laboratories with real-time PCR assays for type and subtype identification, we present a bundle of PCR assays with which any human influenza A and B virus can be easily identified, including assays for the detection of the pandemic A(H1N1)v virus.


RESULTS
The assays show optimal performance characteristics in their validation on plasmids containing the respective assay target sequences. All assays have furthermore been applied to several thousand clinical samples since 2007 (assays for seasonal influenza) and April 2009 (pandemic influenza assays), respectively, and showed excellent results also on clinical material.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider the presented assays to be well suited for the detection and subtyping of circulating influenza viruses.
Schulze
Martin
M
Robert Koch-Institut, Fachgebiet 17 Influenza/Respiratorische Viren, Berlin, Germany.
Nitsche
Andreas
A
Schweiger
Brunhilde
B
Biere
Barbara
B
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058873:Pandemics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*