Report of the 4th meeting of the WHO working group on polymerase chain reaction protocols for detecting subtype influenza A viruses

6 June 2011

| Meeting report

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is a rapid and sensitive method for detecting the

genetic material of influenza viruses, and is now the first-choice laboratory test for influenza

infection in both humans and animals. Since its initial application for detecting A(H5N1)

viruses, the use of PCR has expanded to cover other influenza types, subtypes and lineages,

and the assay is increasingly used for routine seasonal influenza surveillance and diagnosis.

The WHO working group on polymerase chain reaction protocols for detecting subtype

influenza A viruses (hereafter “the PCR working group”) was established in 2007 to serve as

an expert technical group to provide guidance to WHO on the use of PCR in the context of

the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).

WHO Team

Global Influenza Programme (GIP)

Number of pages

WHO