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Laboratory Influenza Page

For this Influenza Season, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories will be performing testing for all flu strains which include 2009 A H1, seasonal flu A types and Flu B. In addition, MDHHS continues to highly encourage confirmatory influenza testing for cases of public health interest (ICU hospitalizations, severely ill pregnant women, patients with unusual and severe presentations, deaths) and for congregate setting outbreak/cluster investigations. MDHHS is reminding laboratories to please submit all rapid positive flu for confirmation.

Please note the approved specimen types for Flu PCR analysis have been expanded to include all of the following:

  • Upper respiratory tract specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs (NP), nasal swabs (NS), throat swabs (TS), dual NP/TS swabs, nasal washes (NW), and nasal aspirates (NA)Lower respiratory tract specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial washes (BW), tracheal aspirates (TA), sputum, lung tissue, and viral culture
  • Lower respiratory tract specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial washes (BW), tracheal aspirates (TA), sputum, lung tissue, and viral culture

For the most current updates, see the latest MIFluFocus report . For the latest information on the current influenza season, see the MDHHS Influenza Page.

2023-2024 Influenza Season Report  
MDHHS Laboratory Data  

The data shown here are the results obtained by the MDHHS Virology Laboratory from specimens for targeted public health testing plus surveillance testing through the Michigan Sentinel Physician and Sentinel Laboratory Programs.  The Sentinel Physician Program consists of medical provider sites from a variety of geographic locations throughout Michigan enrolled in the sentinel surveillance program. These providers represent private practice for adult and pediatric patients, as well as urgent and emergency care facilities, nursing homes and university health services. Michigan is now conducting routine influenza surveillance year round.  Thus, MDHHS requests submission of two to three specimens for influenza A and B viral culture four times during the year: early influenza season, when influenza virus is beginning to circulate; middle season, during the peak of influenza activity; late season, as influenza activity diminishes; and in the summer months. Participation in this program is voluntary.  

The influenza season runs from October through the end of September each year. 

Inf B 2009 A, H1 Seasonal A, H3 A, Unsubtypable LAIV
Time C N SE SW Tot C N SE SW Tot C N SE SW Tot Tot Tot
Sep 22 - 28 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 15 - 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 8 - 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sep 1 - 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 0
Aug 25 - 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Aug 18 - 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aug 11 - 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aug 4 - 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
July 2024 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 5 6 1 0
June 2024 1 0 1 1 3 1 0 1 2 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
May 2024 5 0 9 4 18 2 0 6 5 13 4 0 4 3 11 0 0
April 2024 7 0 16 14 37 11 0 6 6 23 8 0 11 7 26 2 0
March 2024 29 0 16 3 48 17 1 9 26 53 23 0 13 28 64 2 0
February 2024 16 0 12 7 35 23 0 20 56 99 17 0 17 30 64 0 0
January 2024 6 2 11 7 26 47 2 20 33 102 11 4 4 13 32 3 0
December 2023 1 1 16 0 18 18 4 41 20 83 6 3 14 9 32 4 0
November 2023 9 0 7 1 17 15 2 42 10 69 1 0 4 0 5 0 0
October 2023 1 0 4 0 5 15 0 18 7 40 1 0 3 0 4 2 0

 


   2023-2024 Guidance Documents

Influenza Test Algorithm - updated 10/2023
Influenza Guidance for Laboratories - updated 10/2023
Influenza Guidance for Healthcare Providers - updated 10/2023
Influenza Guidance for Local Health Departments - updated 10/2023
Antiviral Resistance Information - updated10/2023

 


   2023-2024 Northern Hemisphere Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Components

     The egg-based vaccines contain the following components:    

          A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
          A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
          B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus  
          B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage)-like virus 

     The recombinant or cell-culture quadrivalent vaccines contain the following components:    

          A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
          A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
          B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus 
          B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Yamagata lineage)-like virus
  


    Antiviral Resistance Testing

Antiviral Resistance Information - updated 10/2023


   Test Request Form

MDHHS Test Request Form 
Quick Guide for Filling Out the MDHHS Test Request Form 


   Specimen Collection and Shipping

Approved specimen types for influenza testing at the MDHHS BOL: 

  • Upper respiratory tract specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs (NP), nasal swabs (NS), throat swabs (TS), dual NP/TS swabs, nasal washes (NW), and nasal aspirates (NA)
  • Lower respiratory tract specimens such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial washes (BW), tracheal aspirates (TA), sputum (PCR only), lung tissue, and viral culture 

Quick Guide for Packaging and Shipping Influenza Specimens to BOL - updated 9/15/2009 
Quick Guide for Making Influenza Specimen Collection Kits - updated 8/26/2009 
MDHHS BOL Flu Collection Guide - updated 10/17/2013
Biological Substance, Category B Shipping Label - DCH-0800   - updated 12/21/2009 


  CDC Influenza Advisories

  • CDC Health Advisory - Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus - added  01/22/2014
  • Avian Influenza H5N1 Testing Guidelines - added  01/22/2014

  •  Influenza Resources    

    National influenza surveillance summary information: 

    CDC Weekly Influenza Surveillance page.  
    The CDC Influenza page.  
    The World Health Organization 


     Past Influenza Season Data  

    Influenza season report for the 2015-2016 season
    Influenza season report for the 2014-2015 season
    Influenza season report for the 2013-2014 season
    Influenza season report for the 2012-2013 season
    Influenza season report for the 2011-2012 season
    Influenza season report for the 2010-2011 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2009-2010 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2008-2009 season 
    Summary of 2007/2008 Influenza Season report 
    Summary of 2006/2007 Influenza Season report 
    Summary of 2005/2006 Influenza Season report 
    Influenza season report for the 2007-2008 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2006-2007 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2005-2006 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2004-2005 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2003-2004 season 
    Influenza season report for the 2002-2003 season 

     

    Rev. 10/08/2024