American Society for Clinical Pathology - Swine Flu: Testing the Lab Response to an Epidemic

Swine Flu: Testing the Lab Response to an Epidemic - Now and a Glimpse of Possibilities

Lance R. Peterson, MD, FASCP
Director of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Research, Clinical Microbiology Consultant, and Epidemiologist, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL
Professor of Pathology and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Karen L. Kaul, MD, PhD
Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Section, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL
Professor of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Jan Nowak, MD, PhD
Associate Director, Molecular Diagnostics Section, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL
Associate Professor of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

Know how to approach developing a molecular assay that detects novel influenza viruses
Recognize the medical importance of accurate identification of influenza virus strains
Identify the ways in which real-time laboratory testing can aid decision making in an influenza infection prevention program
Identify ways in which professional societies and healthcare organizations can work together to monitor the progress of an epidemic caused by an emerging pathogen

The recent epidemic of swine flu that began in Mexico in March 2009 and quickly spread to nearly every state in the U.S. triggered fear about a potential global pandemic. After all, laboratory analysis indicated that these illnesses were caused by Swine Influenza A (H1N1) – a new strain of influenza never before detected. Spreading rapidly from person to person, it appeared at first to be associated with a high (5% to 10%) mortality rate.

Because this was a novel influenza virus, there was no certainty about the ability of currently available laboratory tests to detect it. In this program, experts from a large regional microbiology laboratory will describe PCR-based assays capable of detecting and typing a variety of influenza strains. The in-depth presentation will include discussions about:

How to validate the test for each influenza season
The usefulness of rapid real-time viral detection in the daily planning of a containment program for potential pandemic influenza
Opportunities for professional societies and healthcare organizations to work together in monitoring the spread of an emerging pathogen such as H1N1 flu

Intended Audience: Practicing Pathologists, Residents, Doctoral Scientists, Laboratory Managers, Bench Supervisors, Bench Technologists & Technicians, Infection Control Preventionists, Administrators, Students

List Price

$29.00

From:
Email:
To:
Email:
Subject:
Message: