TESTING FOR SWINE FLU

Ira Shah [MD, DCH (Gold Medalist), FCPS, DNB]
Consultant Pediatrician, Mumbai

Address for Correspondence: 1/B Saguna, 271/B St. Francis Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400056. Email: info@pediatriconcall.com

As per the Government of India, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune along with National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) would be the apex laboratories testing influenza A H1N1 or any other novel influenza virus.

Laboratories that have been identified for testing:

Name	Address	Telephone
National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)	22-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi – 110054	011-23913148, 011-23971272
National Institute of Cholera & Other Enteric Diseases (NICED)	Kolkata	033-23501176, 033-23508493
Department of Microbiology, AIIMS	Delhi	011- 26593288, 011-26516181
National Institute of Virology, Pune	Pune	020-6124386
Vector Control and Research Centre	Pondicherry	0413-372041
Centre for Research in Medical Entomology	Madurai	0452-530746
Defence Research Development Establishment	Gwalior	0751-341550, 0751-340730

How to collect the sample?
• Throat Swab and Nasal / Naso pharyngeal Swab
• Blood for serological tests (if advised)
• From an intubated patient : Lower respiratory aspirate and/or Blood for serological tests

How to collect nasopharyngeal swab?
Insert dry swab into nostril and back to nasopharynx. Leave in place for a few seconds. Slowly remove swab while slightly rotating it. Use a different swab for the other nostril. Put tip of swab into vial containing viral transport medium, breaking applicator’s stick. Nasal Swab

How to store the specimen prior to transport?
Specimens should be stored at 4 °C and transported within 48 hours. If the specimen cannot be transported in 48 hours it should be stored at -70 °C. Do not store in standard freezer or in refrigerator. Sera may be stored at 4 °C for approximately one week, but thereafter should be frozen at –20 °C. Specimens collected for influenza virus isolation should not be stored or shipped in dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). Carbon dioxide can rapidly inactivate influenza viruses if it gains access to the specimens through imperfect seals. is collected from the anterior turbinate.

Which are the tests done?
Any one of the following tests can be done such as Real time RT PCR or isolation of the virus in culture or four-fold rise in virus specific neutralizing antibodies.

For further details:
www.who.int
www.cdc.gov
www.mohfw.nic.in

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