Optimal specimen collection and transport methods for the detection of avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus

Table 4 Results of testing oro-pharyngeal swabs for avian influenza virus by number of swabs pooled

Swab pool	1 DPI		2 DPI		3 DPI		4 DPI		7 DPI
Swab pool	VI	rRT-PCR	VI	rRT-PCR	VI	rRT-PCR	VI	rRT-PCR	VI	rRT-PCR
1 swab	10/10 (100)*	20/20 (100)	8/10 (80)	19/20 (95)	10/10 (100)	20/20 (100)	10/10 (100)	20/20 (100)	1/10 (10)	16/20 (80)
5 swabs	10/10 (100)	28/30 (93.3)	10/10 (100)	29/30 (96.6)	10/10 (100)	30/30 (100)	10/10 (100)	30/30 (100)	3/10 (30)	26/30 (86.6)
11 swabs	19/20 (95)	29/30 (96.6)	19/20 (95)	30/30 (100)	20/20 (100)	30/30 (100)	20/20 (100)	30/30 (100)	3/20 (15)	25/30 (83.3)

Non-flocked swabs were collected in brain heart infusion broth and were tested by virus isolation and real-time RT-PCR. There were no statistical differences by number of swabs pooled. Abbreviations: DPI = days post inoculation, rRT-PCR = real-time RT-PCR, VI = virus isolation.
*. Number positive/total tested (percent positive).

ISSN: 1746-6148