摘要：Since 1994, as part of the global eradication of poliomyelitis, the Australian National Polio Reference Laboratory(NPRL) at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) has been responsible for virologicaltesting to confirm the absence of poliomyelitis in Australia. Samples from patients with acute flaccid paralysis aretransported to VIDRL for viral culture. Polio and enteroviruses are referred for intratypic differentiation as wildor Sabin (vaccine) strains. A total of 23 faecal specimens from 17 patients were processed for ente rovirus culture inthe period 1 July to 31 December 1999. Since 1995, 1,078 enterovirus isolates from six states have been tested for thepresence of wild poliovirus. To date, 56 2 strains were confirmed as Sabin vaccine-like, one non Sabin-like strainwas identical with a laboratory control virus and the other strains were non-polio enteroviruses or other viruses. AWorld Health Organization (WHO) workshop in diagnostic polio polymerase chain reaction techniques was held at VIDRL in November 1999. The laboratory was reaccredited as a regional polio reference laboratory fo r the WHOWestern Pacific region and a national laboratory for Australia, the Pacific Island countries and Br uneiDarussalam. Planning is proceeding for the polio-free certification and containment of laboratory stocks of wildpoliovirus infectious materials in Australia.
