Methods of detecting influenza

A method of detecting the presence of influenza in a sample from a subject comprising (A) obtaining a sample from the subject;

• and (B) amplifying nucleic acids from the sample with primer pairs for detecting the presence of influenza A polymerase acidic (PA), influenza A polymerase basic 2 (PB2), influenza A matrix protein (MP), and avian influenza MP gene in the sample, wherein
• (a) the first primer pair for detecting influenza A PA comprises a first and second primer, wherein the first primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 20 or SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• and the second primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 21 or 90% complementary to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• (b) the second primer pair for detecting influenza A PB2 comprises a third and fourth primer, wherein the third primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 17 or SEQ ID NO:
• 1, and the fourth primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 18 or 90% complementary to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 1;
• (c) the third primer pair for detecting influenza A MP comprises a fifth and sixth primer, wherein the fifth primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 23 or SEQ ID NO:
• 3, and the sixth primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 24 or 90% complementary to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 3;
• and
• (d) the fourth primer pair for detecting avian influenza MP comprises a seventh and eighth primer, wherein the seventh primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 26 or SEQ ID NO:
• 4, and the eighth primer comprises a sequence that is at least 90% identical to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 27 or 90% complementary to at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:
• 4;
• and
• wherein detection of the presence of at least one influenza gene indicates the presence of influenza in the sample.