Comparative examination of a rapid immunocytochemical test for the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in domestic birds in field outbreaks.

Avian influenza virus (AIV) antigen detection was examined in field outbreaks.Bird brain smears were tested using immunocytochemistry (IC).IC results strongly correlated with real-time RT-PCR results.The IC method was rapid, specific, sensitive, and cost-effective in AIV field outbreaks.