What to know
- CDC has guidance for public health, clinical, and commercial laboratories that can test for novel influenza A viruses.
- This includes information on collecting, packaging, transporting, submitting and storing specimens, preferred clinical specimens, testing techniques and confirmatory testing.
Public Health and Clinical Laboratories
CDC recommends specific surveillance efforts by state and local health departments, hospitals, and clinicians among people at increased risk of exposure to novel influenza A viruses.
Commercial Laboratories
CDC has partnered with some commercial laboratories to expand influenza A(H5) testing capacity in the United States. A listing of and information for these laboratory testing companies is available.
Keep Reading:
Commercial Laboratories: Novel Influenza A Virus Testing
Specimen Submission
Instructions for shipment and packaging of clinical specimens for clinical, public health, and commercial laboratories for novel influenza A virus testing.
Keep Reading:
Submitting Specimens for Novel Influenza A Virus Testing
Guidelines for Laboratory Biosafety
Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Novel Influenza A Viruses, Including Potential A(H5N1) Virus
Biosafety guidance for clinical laboratory and support staff who handle, or process specimens potentially containing Novel Influenza A viruses, including potential A(H5N1) viruses.
Content Source:
- Exposure, especially unprotected exposure (e.g., without use of respiratory protection and eye protection) may include: direct contact with birds (e.g., handling, slaughtering, defeathering, butchering, preparation for consumption); or direct contact with surfaces contaminated with feces or bird parts (carcasses, internal organs, etc.); or prolonged close exposure to birds.
- For questions or concerns about possible human infection in patients with exposures to birds not listed here, please contact CDC. Exposures that occur in geographic regions in the United States where newly detected HPAI A(H5) viruses have been identified are of most concern.
- Influenza A viruses that normally circulate in pigs are termed “variant viruses” when identified in infected humans.