Poliomyelitis

Laboratory confirmation of polio viruses requires an efficient network of laboratories. Each WHO region develops a network of laboratories to support the various countries within that area. In these laboratories the staff is trained to isolate and identify the different types of polio viruses. Some countries send specimens to a regional laboratory in a neighboring country. Regional reference laboratories have been set up to tell the differences between vaccine poliovirus from wild poliovirus. A few of these laboratories produce the needed testing agents, do research, and develop training materials for health workers. These laboratories are coordinated with central libraries that contain genotypic information and samples to help in the identification process.