Scientists in Glasgow could be part of an international effort to develop a swine flu vaccine.
Biotech company Vitrology is working on a range of tests, which would ensure any new vaccine would be safe for human use.
Dr Archie Lovatt, scientific director of Vitrology, said: "I think yes we are well prepared, vaccine manufacturers have been preparing for this for a long time now, many years.
“There is some constraints on capacity, with the timing of this potential pandemic, but we are ready with the tests in order to ensure that when the seed stock is available then it will be tested rapidly and become available for the manufacturer.
“Scotland certainly leads the way in that part of the process."
Vitrology scientists are also working with health boards trying to identify possible new cases of swine flu.
Dr Lovatt added: "We have a test here for influenza which we use to screen different products and we have made that test available for a comparative study to the health authorities to try and confirm some testing that they are doing on the cases of influenza they have at the moment.”
It will take six months for an effective inoculation to be produced, by which time there could be greater need for it.
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