For an acute flaccid paralysis case to be classified as 'adequately investigated' in the polio eradication programme, the stool specimen collection criteria are:

• A Two specimens within 14 days of onset of paralysis, collected at least 24 hours apart ✓
• B One specimen collected any time within 28 days of onset
• C Three specimens on consecutive days immediately after notification
• D Two specimens within 7 days of onset, collected 48 hours apart

Explanation

AFP surveillance quality requires two adequate stool specimens taken within 14 days of paralysis onset, separated by at least 24 hours, each of sufficient quantity, and transported in reverse cold chain to a WHO-accredited laboratory. Specimens taken too early may still contain maternal antibody-bound virus and too late lose viral shedding, so this window maximises culture yield for virological classification.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.