When the lab receives a sample, it gets divided into three areas: Molecular testing, tissue culture testing and the archiving. "The archive is very important because that is what's utilized for each year's vaccine," said Maj. Thomas Gibbons, PhD, a molecular biologist featured in the Webisode. "This year's current flu vaccine does contain a flu virus that was isolated in this laboratory."

As part of the tissue testing, Maj. Gibbons notes that, "We do a 'CSI'-investigation on that specimen to see if it has the same genetic fingerprint as the current vaccine." Those fingerprints keep changing so the vaccine needs to change each year. "What is cool about viruses, is how something that is so simple, take over us," added Maj. Gibbons.

Recently these scientists helped identify the new strain called influenza A H1N1, commonly known as the swine flu. The lab is working with people from all around the world to watch it very closely and their samples are helping to create a brand-new vaccine.

"Infectious diseases affect everyone in the world. To know that you can affect something that will prevent a disease is pretty awesome," said Canas.

SOURCE: LabTV