Influenza is caused by three immunologic types of RNA viruses (A, B and C) within the Orthomyxoviridae family. Seasonal influenza is typically caused by three major subtypes of hemaglutinin (H1, H2 and H3) and two subtypes of neuraminidase (N1 and N2). A novel sub-type of influenza A virus called pandemic H1N1 2009 virus was identified in Mexico and reported by the CDC and WHO in April, 2009 (Novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus investigation team, 2009; CDC, 2009; and Fraser et al., 2009). H1N1 2009 is a novel sub-type virus that transmits easily between humans with 21 countries reporting cases within a month of initial identification (CDC, 2009-b). It is essential that public health laboratories around the world undertake detailed surveillance to monitor the spread and impact of pandemic H1N1 2009 virus as well as try to predict future changes in virulence (Fraser et al., 2009). Methods for the rapid diagnosis, case identification and tracking of this novel pathogen in the human population are therefore required to develop appropriate management strategies to mitigate morbidity and mortality.