Sally Furniss
Well-known member
DOI: 10.3201/eid1407.071098
Suggested citation for this article: Stelzer-Braid S, Escott R, Baleriola C, Kirkland P, Robertson P, Catton M, et al. Proficiency of nucleic acid tests for avian influenza viruses, Australasia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jul;
Proficiency of Nucleic Acid Tests for Avian Influenza Viruses, Australasia
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/7/pdfs/07-1098.pdf
An avian influenza quality assurance program was used to provide information for laboratories on the sensitivity and specificity of their avian influenza nucleic acid testing. Most laboratories were able to correctly detect clinically relevant amounts of influenza virus (H5N1), and results improved as each subsequent panel was tested.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) is endemic among the world?s wild bird populations and continued to spread during 2006 to poultry across Asia, Africa, and mainland Europe (1,2). Sensitive, specific diagnostic methods are essential for early accurate detection of HPAI virus in the prepandemic and early pandemic phases in countries where no cases have been recorded, such as Australia (3).
Several sublineages of HPAI (H5N1) exist (4,5). Virus mutation requires that nucleic acid testing (NAT) methods such as reverse transcription?PCR (RT-PCR) be continually improved to remain sensitive for emerging strains (6?12). Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an RT-PCR based on primers published in 1998 (www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/RecAIlabtestsAug07.pdf).
Conclusions
Most participants did not disclose their primer/probe sequence information, which made it difficult to recommend the most sensitive methods to other participants. However, during a prepandemic phase, having a range of primers/probes being used may be optimal, providing influenza A matrix detection is also conducted and QA is maintained, until WHO recommends a method to detect new pandemic strains.
Participants in the avian influenza QAP made clear improvements in the sensitivity and specificity of their NAT methods over time. It is important to provide continuing QA to expose inconsistencies in results or primers that may be skewed toward a particular strain.
Suggested citation for this article: Stelzer-Braid S, Escott R, Baleriola C, Kirkland P, Robertson P, Catton M, et al. Proficiency of nucleic acid tests for avian influenza viruses, Australasia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Jul;
Proficiency of Nucleic Acid Tests for Avian Influenza Viruses, Australasia
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/7/pdfs/07-1098.pdf
An avian influenza quality assurance program was used to provide information for laboratories on the sensitivity and specificity of their avian influenza nucleic acid testing. Most laboratories were able to correctly detect clinically relevant amounts of influenza virus (H5N1), and results improved as each subsequent panel was tested.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus (H5N1) is endemic among the world?s wild bird populations and continued to spread during 2006 to poultry across Asia, Africa, and mainland Europe (1,2). Sensitive, specific diagnostic methods are essential for early accurate detection of HPAI virus in the prepandemic and early pandemic phases in countries where no cases have been recorded, such as Australia (3).
Several sublineages of HPAI (H5N1) exist (4,5). Virus mutation requires that nucleic acid testing (NAT) methods such as reverse transcription?PCR (RT-PCR) be continually improved to remain sensitive for emerging strains (6?12). Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an RT-PCR based on primers published in 1998 (www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/guidelines/RecAIlabtestsAug07.pdf).
Conclusions
Most participants did not disclose their primer/probe sequence information, which made it difficult to recommend the most sensitive methods to other participants. However, during a prepandemic phase, having a range of primers/probes being used may be optimal, providing influenza A matrix detection is also conducted and QA is maintained, until WHO recommends a method to detect new pandemic strains.
Participants in the avian influenza QAP made clear improvements in the sensitivity and specificity of their NAT methods over time. It is important to provide continuing QA to expose inconsistencies in results or primers that may be skewed toward a particular strain.