Development of Standard Reagents for Avian Influenza Virus Subtypes Diagnosis

Avian influenza (AI) is one of the most relevant viruses in the poultry industry. The AI virus (AIV) transmission from birds to human causing severe cases and mortality enhanced the magnitude of AI for public health. Consequently, the AIV diagnosis laboratories should be able to detect and identify endemic, epidemic and seasonal influenza strains and other wildlife influenza subtypes that cross the country’s borders. The development in quality controls in according with international rules comes to improve the performance of tests. With this purpose, the Brazilian Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza (LANAGRO-SP) established a cooperation with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to produce AIV master seeds, inactivated antigens and antiserum to attend the necessities of Brazil and other South America countries under the high quality control for all test. Seventeen of AIV master seed lots and seventeen of inactivated antigens lots produced reached hemagglutination (HA) titers of 1:512 and 1:256, respectively. In addition, fifteen AIV antiserum lots with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers reaching 1:4,096 were obtained. The AIV reference reagents produced and applied in laboratory routine successfully.