Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

[sharon sanders]

Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

<!--AuthorList-->Mackay WG, van Loon AM, Niedrig M, Meijer A, Lina B, Niesters HG.
The Neutral Office, Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD), Block 4, Kelvin Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow G20 0SP, Scotland, UK.

BACKGROUND: We cannot predict when an influenza pandemic will occur or which variant of the virus will cause it. Little information is currently available on the ability of laboratories to detect and subtype influenza viruses including the avian influenza viruses.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the ability of laboratories to detect and subtype influenza viruses.

STUDY DESIGN: In 2006 QCMD distributed an External Quality Assessment panel for the molecular detection and haemagglutinin subtyping of influenza viruses to 87 laboratories in 34 countries Worldwide, which were given 6 weeks to return results. These data were analysed to assess laboratory performance.

RESULTS: Influenza virus positive panel samples were correctly identified by 35-98% of laboratories. The correct haemagglutinin subtype was reported by 32-87% of laboratories that detected the virus: incorrect subtyping results included the reporting of avian influenza viruses as human strains and vice versa. Twelve laboratories reported false positives with some avian influenza viruses reported. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that improvements are needed in the molecular detection of influenza viruses and influenza virus A haemagglutinin subtyping. Only rapid and accurate identification of circulating pandemic influenza virus will ensure that the maximum time is available for intervention.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...ez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

 

[gsgs]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

> Influenza virus positive panel samples were correctly identified
> by 35-98% of laboratories

how can this be interpreted ?
they somehow subdivided the task indo groups and
in some group 35% were correct, in some other group 98% ?

This looks to me like some deliberate attempt to
make the data less useful.
(so people would buy the paper)

 

[Anne]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

did they send whole avian flu virus ?

 

[Oracle]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

The operative phrase, "distributed an External Quality Assessment panel " and the word "samples" suggests that each lab was sent a variety of samples to assess for subtype.

Thus, a range of results is reported for labs that cooperated in this quality assurance study, not a single figure.

I presume that intact virus was supplied within panels sent to labs enrolled in the study, as some subtyping assays require viral culture.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

but they write:

> Influenza virus positive panel samples were correctly identified
> by 35-98% of laboratories

not :

>> 35%-98% of positive samples were correctly identified by the laboratories


ahh, well. I assume now, that they divided each sample into several
parts and sent one part of it to each lab.
Then they counted the percentage of labs, who identified that sample.
Some sample was identified by 35% of labs, some others by 98% of labs.

 

[Anne]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

conclusion : we are not ready

 

[gsgs]

Re: Molecular detection and typing of influenza viruses: Are we ready for an influenza pandemic?

readiness comes in degrees. We're 40% ready, IMO.
In average. Some are readier than others.