Avian flu: Diagnostics quality on the frontline
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The need for speed in the initial investigation of a possible flu outbreak in humans requires that laboratory testing be performed ideally within 48 hours of the detection of a cluster of cases. So says the World Health Organization in an updated "draft protocol for rapid response and containment", citing RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) as an example of the technology required.