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Zanamivir Susceptibility Testing by NA Star and/or Sequencing

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*Accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to Laboratory no. 594 (ISO/IEC 17025)

Requisition Forms

Reference Details

Description:

Susceptibility testing to Zanamivir for Influenza virus by NA Star and/or sequencing*.

Test Category:
Susceptibility Testing
Pathogen:
Influenza virus
Illnesses and Diseases:
  • Influenza
Specimen:

Viral isolate, minimum volume 0.5 mL required, if no additional testing requested.

Collection Method:

N/A

Specimen Processing, Storage and Shipping:

Keep samples refrigerated until shipped for testing.  Ship on dry ice.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods:

Shipping of specimens shall be done by a TDG certified individual in accordance with TDG regulations. For additional information regarding classification of specimens for the purposes of shipping, consult either Part 2 Appendix 3 of the TDG Regulations or section 3.6.2 of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations as applicable.

Patient Criteria:

Suspected or confirmed influenza infection.

Accompanying Documentation:

Completed requisition (current Drug Susceptibility Testing for Influenza Virus requisition form).  The sender's lab name, address, and telephone number must be included for samples to be processed.  Also include identifier (sender lab number), patient date of birth, patient gender, type of specimen, and date collected.  Under additional information, please include if possible/applicable:  passage history, patient travel history, extent of influenza activity, and date of collection relative to antiviral use.

Comments:

N/A

Methods and Interpretation of Results:

Influenza isolate susceptibility to antivirals is determined by both the commercial NA Star kit, as well as sequence analysis*.  The NA Star kit is a chemiluminescent technique that uses a substrate (a derivative of sialic acid) to determine neuraminidase activity of viral isolates.  For sequence analysis*, specific regions of the viral genome are amplified by PCR and sequenced; comparison of the sequence data with known wild-type sequences reveals the presence of any mutations known to cause resistance to the antiviral.

Turnaround Time:

14 calendar days.

Contact:
Phone #: (204) 789-6047
Fax: (204) 789-2082
References:
  1. Hurt, AC et al.  Resistance to anti-influenza drugs: adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors.  Expert Rev. Anti Infect. Ther. (2006)  4: 795-805.
  2. NA-Star Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitor Resistance Detection Kit Protocol, 2006.