Long-term viral archives are valuable sources of research data. Each archive can store hundreds of thousands of diverse sample types. In the current era of whole genome sequencing, archived samples become a rich source of evolutionary and epidemiological data that can span years, and even decades. However, the ability to obtain high quality viral whole genome sequences from samples of various types, age, and quality is inconsistent. A minimum quality threshold that helps predict the best success of obtaining high quality genomic sequences for both recent and archived samples is highly valuable. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (rrt-PCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) are useful tools to evaluate nucleic acid integrity. We hypothesized that diagnostic rrt-PCR and ddPCR data for avian influenza virus (AIV) can predict viral whole genome sequencing success. To test this hypothesis we used RNA extracted from cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs stored in the USDA-APHIS National Wildlife Disease Program Wildlife Tissue Archive. We determined that a specific rrt-PCR Cq value or ddPCR copies/μL resulted in recovery of complete sequences of all eight AIV gene segments. We used logistic regression to estimate probabilities of whole genome recovery at 0.95 (Cq = 15, copies/μL = 49,350), 0.75 (Cq = 24, copies/μL = 16,800), 0.50 (Cq = 29, copies/μL = <1), and 0.25 (Cq = 235, copies/μL = <1). We also identified values at which we predictably recovered HA and NA segments for diagnosing subtypes (Cq = 27.29; copies/μL = 757.50). This approach will allow researchers to assess the potential success of AIV whole genome recovery from diagnostic samples collected in routine AIV surveillance.