Avian Influenza qPCR Matrix, H5/H7

Oropharyngeal swab for poultry. Cloacal swab for waterfowl, wild and pet birds.

Place swab in 3 ml brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth or other viral transport media. If sample is not submitted for a Foreign Animal Disease Investigation, sterile saline may be used when BHI is not available. Swabs must have plastic shafts. No swabs with wooden shafts or bacteriology swabs in a gel/foam media (e.g. culturette). Up to 5 swabs from the same species, same premises, and same sampling route can be pooled.

This is a National Animal Health Laboratory Network protocol designed to detect subtype H5 avian influenza virus. All positive samples are notifiable to the state veterinarian, the USDA, and are submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for confirmatory testing.

Tissue samples can be tested.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Testing Guidance