In Ashgabat, issues of laboratory diagnosis of influenza are discussed
World Health Organization’s training course on molecular identification of influenza viruses is being held in Ashgabat. Specialists from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Ukraine take part in the seminar.
Andrey Komissarov, consultant of the WHO regional office for Europe, told the participants about the principles of molecular diagnostics of influenza, various methods of its detection, as well as ways of DNA and RNA isolation, which are part of a number of viruses.
The molecular method of diagnosing influenza viruses is one of the main ways in its epidemiological surveillance, which is characterized by specificity and sensitivity. With its help, it is possible to accurately and quickly determine the presence of the virus in the patient, to detect infectious agents, even in the case when there are very few. It’s no coincidence, they say about this method of laboratory diagnostics or in another way PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) that thanks to it, scientists can find a “needle in a haystack”.
– Virologic reference laboratory of Turkmenistan is one of the best one. That’s why we chose precisely it for this course, said Komissarov, who represents Russia’s National Influenza Center in St. Petersburg, whose laboratory is a part of Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.
According to the expert, since 2014 the Russian Influenza Center has been actively cooperating with the National Laboratory of Turkmenistan. Specialists of the scientific Institute came here to establish a method of isolation of influenza viruses.
In this regard, the seminar participants will also get acquainted with new test systems and practical approaches to the study of influenza viruses. An important issue is the transportation and storage of samples for diagnosis, as well as the capture of biomaterial. It should be noted that the latter should be carried out during the exacerbation of the infection.
Now, the flu season continues. Therefore, the expert strongly recommends vaccination, so as not to “catch” a virus. Each year, the composition of flu vaccines changes with account of the circulating viruses. If nevertheless you’ve caught the flu, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations.
