Specimen Collection and Testing for
Novel Influenza A Virus (H7N9)
On this page:
Appropriate Specimen Types
Specimen Collection
Specimen Submission Forms
Shipping to MDH-PHL
Other Influenza lab information
Appropriate Specimen Types
For patients admitted with ILI or clinical suspicion of influenza without evidence of pneumonia or other lower respiratory disease – submit one upper respiratory specimen per patient.
- Nasopharyngeal swab is the preferred specimen
- Other acceptable specimens include; nasal swab, nasal wash/aspirate, throat swab, or combined nasal swab with an oropharyngeal swab, and viral culture
Specimen Collection
Infection Control For Specimen Collection
- Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for confirmed, probable or cases under investigation:
Specimen Collection Information
- Place swab in Viral Transport Media (VTM; e.g. M4, M5, Hanks) for transport to MDH. If VTM is not available, then sterile saline or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) is acceptable.
- Specimens transported in VTM must reach MDH within 7 days of collection
- Specimens not transported in VTM must reach MDH within 5 days of collection
- If sending leftover saline solution (no other chemicals, preservatives) from rapid testing, you must send at least 500 µl.
- Swabs collected and/or transported in non-sterile containers, baggies, or without transport media (dry) will not be accepted.
- Ship at refrigeration temperature.
- Nasopharyngeal Specimen Collection for Viral Respiratory Pathogens (NYC Dept. of Health and Human Hygiene)
- Collection of Nasopharyngeal Specimens with the Swab Technique. (Video-New England Journal of Medicine)
Specimen Submission Forms
Only a single Clinical Testing and Submission Form is required, however, you must use the correct version of the form, which is dependant on whether the patient is hospitalized or not.
NOTE: There is NO fee sticker required for influenza testing.
Non-Hospitalized Influenza Testing
Use this form for submitting specimens for influenza testing from non-hospitalized patients.
- Printable Form (PDF:84KB/1 page)
Print and fill out manually. - Fillable Form (PDF: 578KB/1 page)
Fill out on your computer, then print.
Hospitalized Patients Only (Project #1492)
Use this form for all specimens submitted from persons hospitalized with ILI or clinical suspicion of influenza. In order to allow for prompt testing of submitted specimens for project #1492, please be sure to fill out the form completely, especially information regarding hospitalization (date of admission, hospital of admission, and outcome) found on the lower right hand corner of the form.
- Printable Hospitalized Influenza Form (PDF:107KB/1 page)
Print and fill out manually. - Fillable Hospitalized Influenza Form (PDF:793KB/1 page)
Fill out on your computer, then print.
Shipping to MDH-PHL
- Before shipping please call 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414.
- Refrigerate speciment until shipping.
Questions?
- For an MDH epidemiologist, call 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414.
- During buisiness hours you can call the Virology Supervisor at 651-201-5255.
- More information for health professionals regarding specimen collection, submission, and treatment for influenza.
Seasonal Flu Information for Health Professionals | Information For Health Professionals on Influenza A Variant Viruses H3N2v and H1N2v
Spotlight
Voluntary quality assurance program for community vaccinators.
Order Influenza Immunization Materials
Health care worker flu vaccination program.
Attention: Non-MDH link
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 (TTY: 651-201-5797) for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.
