New Strain of Influenza Increases Demand for Flu Testing

This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a number of guidance documents for laboratory and healthcare professionals to assist them in their efforts to monitor, control, and treat the new 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

Remel has products for sample collection, transport, and testing and is fully committed to helping laboratories and clinicians respond to the outbreak. Remel MicroTest™ products are available for specimen collection and transport. The Xpect® Flu A&B rapid diagnostic test kit provides results for influenza A in 15 minutes, however it has not yet been evaluated with the new H1N1 influenza A strain.

Additional guidance for laboratory professionals and the latest developments, including practices for staying healthy, can be found on the CDC Website.

• Interim Guidance for the Detection of Novel Influenza A Virus Using Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Identifying and Caring for Patients (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection and Processing (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance on Case Definitions (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Screening Where Few or No Reported Cases (cdc.gov)
• Interim Guidance for Infection Control (cdc.gov)
• BioSafety Guidelines for Lab Workers (cdc.gov)
• More about 2009 H1N1 Influenza A  (cdc.gov)

(Last updated:  October 2, 2009)