Furthermore, RT-PCR cannot identify cluster information making it difficult to investigate the epidemiology of transmission in outbreaks.
To address these gaps APHL is working with CDC to provide norovirus sequencing training to state public health laboratorians.
Sequence data will enable public health officials to link widespread cases of the disease.
APHL is also assisting CDC with efforts to establish a National Norovirus Sequence Database and to integrate norovirus detection into the PulseNet system.
These efforts will allow public health officials to detect and investigate norovirus outbreaks in real time.