Monitoring of influenza by shell viral assay and direct immunofluorescent staining / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish a rapid culture method for monitoring of influenza circulation and laboratory diagnosis of individual patients with influenza. Methods Nasal aspirate specimens were spun onto 24-well plate containing confluent monolayers of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. Fluorescein labeled monoclonal antibodies to influenza A and B viruses were used to stain and type the isolates. Results A total of 713 nasal aspirates specimens from patients experiencing influenza-like symptoms was collected in Beijing between December of 2000 and March of 2001, 187(26 2%) specimens were found with influenza A virus and 109(15 3%) with influenza B virus. 2 2% with influenza A and 11 2% with influenza B virus were detected in 89 nasal aspirates specimens between Jan-Apr 2002. Conclusion Prevalence of influenza was low during 2000～2002 year non-epidemic period in Beijing. The combination of shell viral assay and direct immunofluorescent staining can provide a rapid laboratory diagnosis of influenza, which makes possible for the patients to receive treatment of anti-influenza virus drugs.