Influenza A and B Antigen, DFA

8357

3 mL nasopharyngeal aspirate/wash, bronchial lavage/wash, in sterile leak-proof container or in VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent viral transport media, or
1 throat or nasopharyngeal swab in 3 mL VCM tube or FDA approved equivalent viral transport media

1 mL

To maintain optimum viability, place swab or fluid into V-C-M (equal volumes of fluid and V-C-M) or equivalent and transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. Best recovery is obtained when the specimens are refrigerated at 2-8°C or kept on wet ice following collection and while in transit. If there will be a long delay before processing, specimens in V-C-M or equivalent should be frozen at -70°C or colder and transported on dry ice. Storage or transport at -20°C is not acceptable. Raw (unpreserved) specimens should only be refrigerated and not frozen.

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Throat specimens on <2 year old patients • Specimen in non-viral transport medium such as nucleic acid or bacterial transport media • Non-respiratory specimens • Dry swabs • Specimen in formalin or other fixatives • Received room temperature or frozen -20°C • Specimen received on slide

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2-3 days

See Laboratory Report

Influenza type A and B viruses cause seasonal outbreaks of "the flu". Each winter, approximately 10-20% of the population are infected. Both type A and B are included in the flu vaccine.