The Ministry of Agriculture successfully developed a diagnostic kit for swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection -- May 2009

　　To effectively control the swine flu epidemic, the Ministry of Agriculture promptly organized experts for joint research. On May 2nd, they successfully developed a swine influenza A (H1N1) virus RT-PCR detection kit, capable of completing rapid detection of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus within 5 hours.

　　Following the outbreak of human influenza A (H1N1) cases abroad, the Ministry of Agriculture immediately organized experts from the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory, the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, and other institutions to form a swine influenza A (H1N1) virus prevention and control expert group. They increased efforts in scientific and technological research, developing rapid and effective diagnostic reagents and preparing technical reserves. As arranged by the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory contacted relevant international organizations and obtained the gene sequence of the influenza A (H1N1) virus causing the human infections. The expert group worked diligently day and night, completing the primer design and clinical testing of the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus RT-PCR detection method in less than a week, and conducting sensitivity tests, specificity tests, stability tests, operability tests, and various verification tests on the test kit. This method is highly sensitive and specific, suitable not only for detecting swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in pigs, but also has high reference value for diagnosing human influenza A (H1N1) virus infections.

　　On May 2nd, the Ministry of Agriculture organized experts from the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, the National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory, China Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Northwest A&F University, and other institutions to hold an appraisal meeting on the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus RT-PCR detection method. After in-depth discussions, experts believed that the test kit technology is mature and can be used for specific detection of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and RT-PCR differential diagnosis of H1 subtype domestic and foreign prevalent strains. It is suitable for detecting influenza A (H1N1) virus nucleic acid in pig tissues, secretions, and cultures. Using this method, test results can be obtained within 5 hours.