Testing for the Novel Influenza A Virus H1N1 (Swine Flu) is done by real time PCR from
clinical specimens.

For complete information regarding testing for H1N1 virus, please go to the CDC website.

Specimen Collection

• Nasopharyngeal swab (Flocked swab - Avoid COTTON swabs on wooden sticks) specimens are highly recommended. Insert swab into nostril and advance gently up the nose, along the base of the nasal cavity, for a few centimetres. Rotate swab a bit against the sides of the nasal cavity, then withdraw gently. Store in UTM (Universal Transport Medium) and keep refrigerated.
• Nasal or Throat swabs can also be used;
• Flocked swabs are preferred for specimen collection, but any swab may be used as long as it is not cotton, andnot on a wooden stick. 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.