Laboratory Services

New
Novel Influenza H1N1 (Swine Flu): Laboratory Guidelines for Suspected Cases

H1N1: Find details on the Health Alert Website.

Collection
Obtain any of the following:

Nasopharyngeal swab
Collect a nasopharyngeal swab using a Dacron tip and aluminum or plastic shaft. Do not use swabs that are calcium alginate, cotton or have wooden shafts.

If a rapid influenza test has been performed, use a separate and clean nasopharyngeal swab when obtaining the specimen for influenza testing that will be performed at the state laboratory. Package this swab in viral transport media and ship.

Nasal aspirate

Nasal or throat swab

Combined nasopharyngeal swab with a throat swab

Specimens should be placed into sterile viral transport media (M4RT) and immediately placed on ice or cold packs or at 4 degrees Celsius (refrigerator) for transport to the laboratory.

Place specimen in container with cold packs.

Label container as Biological substance, Category B UN3373.

Ship immediately, refrigerate specimens that cannot be shipped immediately.

Viral Packaging Instructions

Shipment

Submit specimens with Lab Form 275. The form can be printed directly from this Web site.

Please contact the lab at (502)564-4446 (normal business hours) or (502)330-6235 (emergency number) with any questions.

Send specimens to:

ATTN: Virology
KY Division of Laboratory Services
100 Sower Blvd.
Frankfort, KY 40601

Confirmatory H1N1 (Swine Flu) testing is currently being performed by the KY Division of Laboratory Services.