Zahra Hasan.
Avian flu diagnostics.
Infect Dis J Jan ;14(4):135-6.

The H5 virus was identified in poultry in NWFP, Pakistan. However, so far there are no confirmed reports of this being the H5N1 strain. There is an important need to be able to successfully detect the H5N1 virus so that the disease can be correctly diagnosed and treated. According to World Health Organization recommendations, the optimal specimen for influenza A virus detection is a nasopharyngeal aspirate obtained within 3 days of the onset of symptoms, although nasopharyngeal swabs and other specimens can also be used (http://www.int/csr/disease/avian _influenza/guidelines/handlingspecimens/en/index.html) The initial strategy for laboratory testing of specimens should be to diagnose influenza A virus rapidly and to exclude other common viral respiratory infections. This is a review article.

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