Division 4 Laboratory testing

Laboratory tests shall be carried out in accordance with the Diagnostic Manual.

The testing of samples shall be carried out at the NRL F1... or by other laboratories authorised by the competent authorities and under the control of the NRL.

However, if a F2the appropriate Minister wishes to use laboratory tests not laid down in the Diagnostic Manual nor described in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the OIE, those tests must first be deemed fit for purpose by the F3NRL, based on validated data, before being used.

Initial screening using M gene PCR shall be carried out, followed by rapid testing of positive findings for H5 which shall be carried out within a period of not more than 2 weeks. In case of a positive finding for H5, an analysis of the cleavage site shall be undertaken as soon as possible to determine whether or not it has a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or a low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) motif. Where H5 HPAI is confirmed, further analysis to determine the N type must be done rapidly, even though this can only provide evidence to eliminate N1.