National Influenza Surveillance Guidance

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Thank you for your participation in the US National Influenza Surveillance system. Our system relies on your help! Below please find links to download specimen submission guidance and the specimen submission form.

Influenza Specimen Submission

Please follow the guidance as consistently as possible, submitting recently collected specimens on a routine basis. Remember to email a copy of the submission form to the receiving laboratory to help them prepare for the arrival of your shipment; also include a printed copy in your shipment.

• 2024-2025 Influenza Season: Surveillance for Novel Influenza A and Seasonal Influenza Viruses
  

• Appendix 1: Recommendations to commercial laboratories to increase submission of influenza A positive specimens to state and local PHLs for additional subtyping (including A(H5))
• Appendix 2: CDC-WHO Collaborating Center Guidance for Influenza Virus Surveillance​
• Appendix 3: CDC-WHO Collaborating Center Guidance for Influenza Antiviral Resistance Surveillance
  
• Appendix 4: CDC-WHO Collaborating Center Guidance for Influenza Virus Diagnostic Submissions
• Appendix 5: CDC-WHO Collaborating Center Guidance for National Influenza Reference Centers (NIRCs)​
  
  

• Influenza Specimen Submissi​​on​ Form​ (Updated April 2022)​​
  

​Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A

HPAI ​Guidance Documents and Resources

Please review the following documents which were developed or shared in response to cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) identified in dairy cows in the US beiginning in April 2024. 

• APHL ​Biosafety Con​siderations for Milk and Dairy Testing (April 2024)
  

• Frequently Asked Questions & Resources​​​ (Revised August 9, 2024) 
  

• CDC HPAI (H5N1) Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring and Public Health Interventions ​​
  

HPAI Response Communications (APHL Members Only)

The following communications resources are restricted to APHL members only; members must sign into your aphl.org account to access: 

Call Summaries

• April 10, 2024: All Member Call​ 
  

• April 26, 2024: All Lab Director Call ​
  

• May 13, 2024: All Member Call
  

• May 29, 2024: All Member Call​

• June 12, 2024: All Member Call
  

• June 26, 2024: National PHL Call on Infectious Disease Issues (combined)
  

• July 10, 2024: CANCELED
  

• July 24, 2024: All Member Call

• August 7, 2024: CANCELED

• August 21, 2024: All Member Call​

APHL Member Email Updates 

Access links to all APHL member emails; document will be updated as new communications are sent. 

Other Respiratory Viruses

Additional respiratory virus guidance documents are available​ for SARS-CoV-2 and RSV.

Questions?​​

Contact fluquestions@aphl.org.