Development of a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for the rapid detection of avian influenza virus subtype H7

► In this study we developed a RT-LAMP assay for specific detection of high- and low-pathogenic H7 subtype avian influenza virus (H7 AIV). ► The assay had a minimum detection limit of 0.1 and 0.01 PFU per reaction for detection of high- and low-pathogenic H7 AIV. ► Shedding can be detected from throat and cloacal swab samples by the assay in 1 day after H7 ALV infection. ► The assay can be used in epidemiological surveillance and rapid diagnosis of H7 AIV.