Key components of this effort include the development and deployment of advanced diagnostic tools, such as real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which utilises radioactive isotopes as tracers to detect the viral RNA with high sensitivity and specificity. The initiative also provides crucial training and expertise in disease surveillance, laboratory procedures, and data analysis, including the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), which can use radioisotopes for increased accuracy in detecting antibodies to the avian influenza virus. Furthermore, the IAEA fosters international collaboration and information sharing, promoting a coordinated global approach to avian influenza control. By leveraging the precision and sensitivity of these nuclear techniques, the IAEA is contributing to the global effort to mitigate the impact of avian influenza and protect both animal and human populations.
