Title: Establishing the laboratory - based Influenza surveillance network in Vietnam.

Abstract

In 2006, national influenza surveillance was implemented in Vietnam and highlighted the importance of laboratory capacity to detect influenza viruses including novel influenza virus. Building and strengthening the influenza laboratory network by increasing trained personnel and equipped laboratories base on support from WHO and other international organizations, currently, 26 laboratories have been included in the network capable of performing polymerase chain reaction testing for influenza. This paper provides a brief overview of the laboratory-based influenza surveillance capacity for influenza virus detection and determination of their respective strengths and challenges in sustaining the network in the future.