After a break of 41 years, 2009 saw the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century caused by a triple-reassortant influenza A (H1N1) virus. The current estimated case fatality rate is lower than that of previous influenza pandemics, but this may change as the pandemic evolves. Illness frequently occurs in previously healthy, young adults with a wide range of clinical presentations. The majority of circulating pandemic viruses remain susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors, although all strains are intrinsically resistant to the adamantanes. Monovalent vaccines against the pandemic strain are available in both live attenuated and inactivated forms. This review aims to summarise important virological, epidemiological and clinical aspects of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus for physicians and other clinical personnel. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:11-21.

ObjectivesAutomated molecular analyzers have accelerated diagnosis, allowing earlier intervention and better patient follow-up. A recently developed completely automated molecular analyzer, Alinity™ m (Abbott), offers consolidated, continuous, and random-access testing that may improve molecular laboratory workflow.MethodsAn international, multicenter study compared laboratory workflow metrics across various routine analyzers and Alinity m utilizing assays for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Chlamydia trachomatis [CT]/Neisseria gonorrhoeae [NG]/Trichomonas vaginalis [TV]/Mycoplasma genitalium [MG]). Three turnaround times (TATs) were assessed: total TAT (sample arrival to result), sample onboard TAT (sample loading and test starting to result), and processing TAT (sample aspiration to result).ResultsTotal TAT was reduced from days with routine analyzers to hours with Alinity m, independent of requested assays. Sample onboard TATs for standard workflow using routine analyzers ranged from 7 to 32.5 h compared to 2.75–6 h for Alinity m. The mean sample onboard TAT for STAT samples on Alinity m was 2.36 h (±0.19 h). Processing TATs for Alinity m were independent of the combination of assays, with 100% of results reported within 117 min.ConclusionsThe consolidated, continuous, random-access workflow of Alinity m reduces TATs across various assays and is expected to improve both laboratory operational efficiency and patient care.

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