Detection of seasonal H3N2 influenza A virus by type-specific TaqMan minor groove binder probe assay

Despite the emergence of the pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus in 2009, seasonal H3N2 viruses continue to co-circulate in the population and may even predominate in the coming influenza season. We describe a specific minor groove binder TaqMan assay for H3N2 viruses with a detection limit of 16.5 standard DNA copies.