Quantcast
Published On: Wed, Jun 12th, 2013

CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 testing, specimen collection and sample processing in the US

To date, there has been a total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) since the outbreak began–131 cases in China and one in Taiwan.

A CDC Scientist harvests H7N9 virus that has been grown for sharing with partner laboratories for research purposes.Image/CDC

A CDC Scientist harvests H7N9 virus that has been grown for sharing with partner laboratories for research purposes.Image/CDC

Human infection appears to be related to exposure to live poultry or contaminated environments. However,much remains unknown about this virus, including the animal reservoir(s) in which it is circulating, the main exposures and routes of transmission, and the scope of the spread of this virus among people and animals. Investigations are ongoing.

Although there has been no cases of human infection with the virus in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided interim guidance for clinicians and public health professionals on appropriate specimen collection, storage, processing, and testing for patients who may be infected with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus.

The CDC says since there currently is no data describing prolonged shedding of infected individuals with this virus, the estimated duration of viral shedding is based upon seasonal influenza virus infection.

Specimen collection for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus testing should be as soon as possible after illness onset, ideally within 7 days of illness onset.

The specimens of choice include a nasopharyngeal swab, or a nasal aspirate or wash, or  two swabs combined into one viral transport media vial (e.g., combined nasal swab with oropharyngeal swab or combined nasopharyngeal swab with oropharyngeal swab).

An acceptable alternative would be a single nasal swab or single oropharyngeal swab.

If the case is a lower respiratory infection, an endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage is preferred.

In addition, the CDC has specific requirements on types of swabs used and shipping requirements.

Concerning diagnostic testing, the CDC notes that the performance of current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared diagnostic tests for influenza has been demonstrated for seasonal human influenza viruses as described by the manufacturer package insert. Performance has not been demonstrated with novel influenza A viruses.

Molecular assays may detect novel influenza A viruses, but will not differentiate novel influenza A viruses from seasonal influenza A viruses. For these assays a novel influenza A virus may give an influenza A “unsubtypable” result.

Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) and immunofluorescence tests also have unknown sensitivity and specificity to detect human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in clinical specimens.

A packaged CDC reagent kit for detecting H7N9 virus Image/CDC

A packaged CDC reagent kit for detecting H7N9 virus Image/CDC

The federal health agency says specimens to be tested for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus should be sent first to public health laboratories.

All state public health laboratories should use the CDC Human Influenza Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel to screen specimens for InfA, InfB, and RP.

Health departments should test all InfA-positive specimens with the CDC Influenza A Subtyping kit using all primer/probe sets: H1, H3, pdmInfA, and pdmH1. Avian influenza A (H7N9) viruses will be positive for the influenza A target, but negative for the seasonal influenza A (H3) target, negative for the seasonal influenza A (H1) target, negative for the pandemic 2009 (pdmH1) target, and negative for the nucleoprotein (NP) gene target (pdmInfA) using the CDC Human Influenza Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. Public Health officials should contact CDC immediately if they obtain unsubtypable results when testing an influenza specimen.

Laboratories should not attempt diagnosis of patients who may be infected with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus using viral culture.

Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Processing, and Testing for Patients Who May Be Infected with Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus

Interim Guidance on Case Definitions to be Used for Novel Influenza A (H7N9) Case Investigations in the United States

Human Infections with Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Viruses

Interim Guidance on the Use of Antiviral Agents for Treatment of Human Infections with Avian Influenza A (H7N9)

For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available

This diagram depicts the origins of the H7N9 virus from China and shows how the virus's genes came from other influenza viruses in birds. Image/CDC

This diagram depicts the origins of the H7N9 virus from China and shows how the virus’s genes came from other influenza viruses in birds. Image/CDC

On the DISPATCH: Headlines  Local  Opinion

Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd ) [ALL INFO CONFIDENTIAL]

About the Author

- Writer, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of The Global Dispatch. Robert has been covering news in the areas of health, world news and politics for a variety of online news sources. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the website, Outbreak News Today and hosts the podcast, Outbreak News Interviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify Robert is politically Independent and a born again Christian Follow @bactiman63

Displaying 2 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 ... says:

    […] CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 testing, specimen collection … The Global Dispatch CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 testing, specimen collection and sample processing in the US.  […]

  2. CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 ... says:

    […] CDC issues guidelines for avian influenza H7N9 te… The Global Dispatch Specimen collection for avian influenza A (H7N9) virus testing should be as soon as possible after illness onset, ideally within 7 days of illness onset.  […]

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these html tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

like_us_on_facebook

 

The Global Dispatch Facebook page- click here

Movie News Facebook page - click here

Television News Facebook page - click here

Weird News Facebook page - click here 

DISPATCH RADIO

dispatch_radio

THE BRANDON JONES SHOW

brandon_jones_show-logo

Archives