Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2383-0298 1 2 2014 08 01 Comparison of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction and Conventional Cell Culture for Detection of Influenza A in Tabriz, Iran 21034 21034 10.17795/ajcmi-21034 EN Sirus Jedary Seif Masoud Sabouri Ghannad Journal Article 10.17795/ajcmi-21034 2014 03 01 2014 06 01 Background: Influenza type A (H1N1) causes an epidemic disease, resulting in thousands of deaths throughout the world. Objectives: Our aim was comparing the efficacy of two different methods in isolating the Influenza (H1N1) virus including cell culture and real-Time PCR in Tabriz and suburbs. Patients and Methods: Of throat swab samples, 220 were collected in viral transport medium (VTM) from patients with a suspected influenza virus infection referred to hospitals and clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. All the samples were examined through virus culturing in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK line) and also real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Results: RT-PCR detected 41 cases of influenza A (H1N1), compared with the virus isolation methods that detected 18 cases. Conclusions: RT-PCR provided a sensitive and specific route compared with virus isolation. In addition, urgent planning for the vaccination program of influenza A is suggested, which can definitely prevent the spread of virus in this part of Iran.