Coordinating System for Testing and Laboratory Surveillance for Bird Flu, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health

The National Institute of Health, the Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health are the reference centers for diagnostic identification and control of endemic diseases. After the endemic of bird flu, the Department of Medical Sciences Ministry of Public Health has set up collaborative system for analysis and surveillance of bird flu utilizing the laboratory approach to maximize the systematic laboratory protocol. The center had analyzed samples of 517 patients suspected of bird flu infection. We found negative results in 510 patients using viral isolation and IFA method and positive results in 7 patients. Using RT-PCR H5N1 and real time RT-PCR H5N1 for analysis of patient๛s samples yielding negative and positive results of 508 and 9 patients respectively. It was evaluated that the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of RT-PCR technique were 100, 99.6 and 99.6, respectively. Establishment of systematic guidelines for laboratory protocol starting from sample collection, analytical methodology, data interpretation, reporting of results, and setting up of laboratory networking to enhance the speed of surveillance and control of diseases since the endemic will adversely impact the health of people and economy of the country as a whole. Keywords : Coordinating system, Laboratory surveillance, Bird Flu