Meeting of the WHO working group on polymerase chain reaction protocols for detecting subtype influenza A viruses - Geneva, June 2010

The WHO working group on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols for detecting subtype influenza A viruses held its third meeting in Geneva in June 2010. Participants included representatives from WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza, WHO H5 Reference Laboratories, Essential Regulatory Laboratories, National Influenza Centres and the World Organisation for Animal Health-United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza.

The first and second meetings of the working group were held in September 2007 and April 2009. The objectives of the meeting in June 2010 were to discuss the updating of protocols, the availability of new PCR test kits and the use of new diagnostic techniques, as well as surveillance activities, the external quality assessment of laboratories, antiviral resistance and human serological studies to influenza A viruses. A brief account of the outcomes of the working group's discussions is presented in this article.