Abstract

VARGAS-CORDOBA, Manuel Antonio. Influenza A H1N1 swine origin: diagnostic methods. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2010, vol.58, n.1, pp.44-59. ISSN 0120-0011.

The diagnosis of infection by influenza viruses relays on direct and indirect virologic techniques. Different diagnostic tests have variable sensitivities and specificities depending to a large extent on the genetic and antigenic features of the circulating virus. When a new viral variant appears, commercially available tests must be validated in order to verify their performance at detecting the new virus. If a low sensitivity or specificity is found, tests must be adjusted in order to improve their detection power for the new agent. There are multiple diagnostic tests, each one with its own advantages and limitations; so the selection of a test will depend on the specific conditions of a particular diagnostic laboratory.

Keywords : influenza; human; influenza A virus; H1N1 subtype; infection; virology.

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