Detection of influenza by real time RT-PCR is not affected by delays in respiratory specimen processing.

Sample processing for real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) based diagnostic assays requires stabilizing sample ribonucleic acid (RNA) in lysis buffer prior to testing. The stability of viral RNA prior to processing is difficult to assure. It is unknown if clinical sample integrity is compromised by delays in processing, as may occur due to weekends and holidays. We sought to examine the integrity of respiratory specimens with variable processing times.