Laboratory Test Identifies Patients Infected With Swine Flu Virus

Swine flu is a respiratory disease that is caused by the H1N1 serotype of influenza A virus. The influenza A virus infects mainly humans, pigs, and birds. Scientists believe that the H1N1 subtype has mutated from a type that primarily infected pigs into a new form that is now transmissible through direct human-to-human contact.

Quest Diagnostics (Madison, NJ, USA), through its Focus Diagnostics (Cypress, CA, USA) infectious disease reference laboratory, has introduced a laboratory-developed RNA real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to aid in identifying novel swine flu virus infection.

Physicians can order the new Focus Diagnostics test to aid in the diagnosis of influenza A virus including the H1N1 serotype. It will be possible to submit patient specimens that are found to be positive for influenza A virus by a Quest Diagnostics' regional laboratory (or other clinical laboratory) to the Focus Diagnostics reference laboratory to determine whether the virus is the H1N1 serotype responsible for swine flu.

Quest Diagnostics provides different laboratory techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rapid cell culture, direct immunofluorescence (DFA), and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing. The Influenzavirus A testing services use specimens that include nasopharyngeal swabs, nasal secretions, nasal wash (lavage), and aspirations.

For more information on Swine flu and what you can do to minimize infection, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA) web information on Swine Flu below.

Related Links:
Quest Diagnostics
Focus Diagnostics
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Web information on Swine Flu