ANNEX IU.K. Guidelines on the implementation of surveillance programmes for avian influenza in poultry

9.Laboratory testingU.K.

The testing of samples shall be carried out at [F1the national reference laboratory for avian influenza or by other laboratories authorised by the Secretary of State (“the NRL”) with the consent of the other appropriate Ministers].

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Laboratory tests shall be carried out in accordance with the Diagnostic Manual which lays down the procedures for the confirmation and differential diagnosis of avian influenza.

F2...

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All positive serological findings shall be confirmed by the NRL by a haemagglutination-inhibition test, using designated strains F3...:

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(a)

for H5 subtype:

(i)

initial testing using teal/England/7894/06 (H5N3);

(ii)

testing of all positives with chicken/Scotland/59(H5N1) to eliminate N3 cross reactive antibodies;

(b)

for H7 subtype:

(i)

initial testing using turkey/England/647/77 (H7N7);

(ii)

testing of all positive with African starling/983/79 (H7N1) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibodies.

All positive serological findings must be followed up at the poultry holding by epidemiological investigations and further sampling for testing by virological methods in order to determine, if active infection of avian influenza virus is present on the poultry holding. F4...

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F5...

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F5...