Human Influenza Virus Real-time RT-PCR: Detection and Discrimination of Influenza A (H3N2) Variant from Seasonal Influenza A (H3N2) Viruses, Including H3v and Seasonal H3 Assays

Description:

This invention relates to methods of rapidly detecting influenza, including differentiating between type and subtype. CDC researchers have developed a rapid, accurate, real-time RT-PCR assay that has several advantages over culture and serological tests, which require 5 to 14 days for completion; this assay can also be easily implemented in kit form. To date, hundreds of human cases of infection with the H3N2 variant virus have been confirmed. The increased numbers of human infection of H3N2 variant virus has led to a need for a highly sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis and confirmation of the H3N2 variant virus.