Influenza virus is a highly contagious respiratory RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family and causes an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract that is highly infectious with a usual incubation period of one to three days. For otherwise healthy individuals, influenza is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery usually within two to seven days. The illness may however be complicated by bronchitis, secondary bacterial pneumonia or, in children, otitis media. Influenza can be complicated more unusually by meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis.

Influenza infection is most common during the winter months, typically spreading rapidly through respiratory droplets and aerosols from an infected person. The use of laboratory or point of care tests can assist in the right diagnosis and treatment of influenza, reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions and the number of repeat doctor visits. Testing aids in the decision to implement infection prevention and control measures for influenza.

Influenza Virus Detection

Virus detection in the laboratory is usually performed, using multiplex molecular test platforms, on fluid from respiratory secretions, nose and throat swabs. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests can help in the diagnosis and management of patients at point of care, aiding infection control and reducing the spread of the virus.

Rapid influenza tests are often based on the visibility of a coloured line in the device when the sample is positive. However, new advances in fluorescent technology have allowed the development of rapid influenza tests with a significantly higher sensitivity, approaching that of molecular methods.

The SD Biosensor Standard F Influenza A&B test is easy to use and the kit includes all reagents and nasopharyngeal swabs. Results are read and interpreted automatically using the F200 or F2400 analyser.

• Assay time 1.5 to 10 minutes
• Filter cap provided for mucosal samples
• Detects Influenza A types: H1N1; H1N1/2009; H3N2; H4N6; H5N1; H5N3; H6N5; H7N1; H7N2; H8N4; H9N2
• Detects Influenza B
• Sample types: nasopharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab in transport medium, nasopharyngeal aspirate

• SD Biosensor Respiratory PDF

Influenza Antibody Detection and Quantification

Serological testing for the diagnosis of influenza requires paired acute and convalescent sera collected 2-3 weeks apart to assess a 4-fold or greater rise in influenza virus strain-specific antibodies. It is more often used for screening purposes in research and public health investigations.

IBL International produces ELISA kits for the detection and quantitation of IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies to Influenza A and B in human serum or plasma. Please contact us for further information about any of these products.

Influenza Antibodies and Recombinant Proteins

BioVendor offers a range of mammalian-expressed recombinant influenza proteins from different sub-types of Influenza A. Their product range includes monoclonal antibodies that can distinguish between infection with Influenza A and B. These monoclonal antibodies are highly specific to each family, and show no cross-reactivity with other common respiratory viruses including adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus.

• BioVendor Proteins
• BioVendor Antibodies

C Reactive Protein (CRP)

CRP is a non-specific marker released into the blood in response to various infectious and inflammatory triggers. It is normally present in low concentrations in the blood of healthy people and uncomplicated viral infections usually cause a modest increase in the level of CRP. In bacterial infections there is often a marked increase in CRP.

The measurement of CRP in people with suspected lower respiratory tract infections may help to differentiate between viral infections and more serious bacterial infections that require antibiotic treatment. This is significant in the global initiative for Antimicrobial Stewardship as widespread inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to the increase in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) becoming a global healthcare and economic problem.

The Eurolyser CUBE is a small analyser designed to support diagnosis and treatment in primary healthcare settings. The range of assays available includes point of care CRP and hsCRP.

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