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Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
In-field detection and characterization of B/Victoria lineage deletion variant viruses causing early influenza
Bo Shu1, Malania M Wilson1, Matthew W Keller1
1Virology, Surveillance and Diagnosis Branch, Influenza Division Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta Georgia USA.
Background:
In 2019, the Louisiana Department of Health reported an early influenza B/Victoria (B/VIC) virus outbreak.
Method:
As it was an atypically large outbreak, we deployed to Louisiana to investigate it using genomics and a triplex real-time RT-PCR assay to detect three antigenically distinct B/VIC lineage variant viruses.
Results:
The investigation indicated that B/VIC V1A.3 subclade, containing a three amino acid deletion in the hemagglutinin and known to be antigenically distinct to the B/Colorado/06/2017 vaccine virus, was the most prevalent circulating virus within the specimens evaluated (86/88 in real-time RT-PCR).
Conclusion:
This work underscores the value of portable platforms for rapid, onsite pathogen characterization.
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