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National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza

Collection and Handling of Human Specimens for Laboratory Diagnosis of Influenza with Pandemic Potential

Date of publication: June 2006

ISBN 0-478-29978-8 (Book)
ISBN 0-478-29979-6 (Website)

HP 4260

Citation: Ministry of Health. 2006. National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza: Collection and handling of human specimens for laboratory diagnosis of influenza with pandemic potential. Wellington: Ministry of Health.


The National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza were compiled in consultation with members of the New Zealand Virology Laboratory Network. They are intended for use by health professionals and laboratory staff to ensure safe handling and collection of human specimens for diagnosis of influenza with pandemic potential.

During a global influenza pandemic alert, and in concert with New Zealand’s pandemic response strategy, all health care providers should be alert for patients with respiratory illness that could be pandemic influenza. For all suspected patients, samples for virus detection should be collected. The National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza advise what specimens are preferred and what test should be performed at the different stages of a pandemic.

Document availability

These guidelines are available in Word and PDF format below.

National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza (Word, 218 kB)
National Laboratory Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza (PDF, 203 kB)

This publication is also available in hard copy. You can order a copy by emailing moh@wickliffe.co.nz or calling 04 496 2277 quoting HP number 4260. Please let us know your name, your physical address and how many copies you would like.

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Related information

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