WHO Collaborating Laboratories Influenza Testing Methods

Form Approved
OMB No. 0920-0004

U.S. WHO Collaborating Laboratories
Influenza Testing Methods Assessment

4.

What influenza testing methods does your lab
conduct? (check all that apply and give approximate
percentage of specimens tested by each method.
Total % may be > 100%)
 Commercial rapid diagnostic
_____ %
 Viral culture
_____ %
 Immunofluorescent antibody testing _____ %
 RT-PCR
_____ %
 Other
_____ %
Specify: _________________________

5.

Does your lab test for respiratory viruses other than
influenza? If yes, please answer a and b below.
 No
 Yes
a) In what situations do you test respiratory
specimens for respiratory viruses other than
influenza? (check all that apply)
 If initial screening results are negative
for influenza
 During the summer or fall when
influenza circulation is not suspected
 If a particular viral pathogen is suspected
due to clinical symptoms
 If a clinician requests the test
 As part of a panel to screen for
respiratory viruses
 Never
 Other
Specify:
b) Does your lab use a multiplex PCR
respiratory virus assay? If yes, please specify
assay used.
 No
 Yes
Specify:

6.

Does your lab plan to perform influenza B lineage
testing using the available CDC PCR assay?
 Yes, all B viruses
 Yes, a subset of B viruses
 No
 Undecided

Lab Name:
Lab ID Number:
1.

Does your lab test specimens that have already been
tested for influenza (prescreened) prior to receipt by
your laboratory AND the results of that test influence
whether or not the sample is submitted?
 No, the samples are not prescreened OR the
results have no impact on the decision of which
samples are sent
 Yes, we receive at least some prescreened
samples throughout the year.
%
o Approximate % prescreened
 Yes, we receive prescreened samples, but only
during certain times of the year.
o Timeframe
o Approximate % prescreened
%

2.

If you answered ‘Yes’ in previous question, what
specimens do you request from prescreening sites?
 A positive only
 A and B positive only
 A, B positive and small # of negative
 Other
Specify:

3.

What best describes the origin of specimens received
in the last year? Please rank order the following
sources from 1 (source from which you obtain the
most specimens) to 6 (source from which you receive
the least specimens).
____ ILINet surveillance sites
____ Local health departments
____ Managed care
____ Private physicians
____ Hospitals
____ Other
Specify: _________________________

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Please fax completed survey to 1-888-232-1322.