Single Test Detects All Existing Strains of H5N1
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 06 Jun 2012 |
|
A bird flu diagnostic kit was successfully developed by scientists at a research institute and a hospital in Singapore.
The advanced kit enables doctors to rapidly detect all existing strains of H5N1 viruses in a single test with almost 100% accuracy. This will boost the public healthcare system and will aid pandemic preparedness worldwide against this highly infectious and often lethal disease.
The new H5N1 test kit is more accurately known as the H5N1 real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay. It is the only detection kit currently available on the market that can accurately and rapidly detect all known strains of the H5N1 avian Influenza A virus.
The current gold standard for H5N1 detection recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) is only able to detect three out of the 10 distinct genetic groups (clades 1, 2, and 3). To detect all existing strains of H5N1 with the WHO detection method is not possible.
Codeveloped by Dr. Masafumi Inoue, a senior research scientist and project director of technology development from the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) under the Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR; Singapore) and Dr Timothy Barkham, a senior consultant of Laboratory Medicine from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH; Singapore), the newly launched H5N1 test kit has been clinically validated by several hospitals in Southeast Asia.
The new test kit is compatible with the previously launched "4-plex" Influenza diagnostic kit. The latter is being used by several regional hospitals in Thailand. Using such multiplex assays enables simultaneous detection and differentiation of the different types of influenza infection in a single test, which will save laboratories time and expense.
"We are excited to be able to contribute to the fight against H5N1 virus with our expertise and know-how. Our technology has greatly simplified and accelerated the process of detection and identification of new H5N1 variants. Such information is especially critical when the virus mutates to become more dangerous, such as in drug resistance." said Dr Inoue.
Related Links:
Agency for Science and Technology Research
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
World Health Organization
The advanced kit enables doctors to rapidly detect all existing strains of H5N1 viruses in a single test with almost 100% accuracy. This will boost the public healthcare system and will aid pandemic preparedness worldwide against this highly infectious and often lethal disease.
The new H5N1 test kit is more accurately known as the H5N1 real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay. It is the only detection kit currently available on the market that can accurately and rapidly detect all known strains of the H5N1 avian Influenza A virus.
The current gold standard for H5N1 detection recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) is only able to detect three out of the 10 distinct genetic groups (clades 1, 2, and 3). To detect all existing strains of H5N1 with the WHO detection method is not possible.
Codeveloped by Dr. Masafumi Inoue, a senior research scientist and project director of technology development from the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) under the Agency for Science and Technology Research (A*STAR; Singapore) and Dr Timothy Barkham, a senior consultant of Laboratory Medicine from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH; Singapore), the newly launched H5N1 test kit has been clinically validated by several hospitals in Southeast Asia.
The new test kit is compatible with the previously launched "4-plex" Influenza diagnostic kit. The latter is being used by several regional hospitals in Thailand. Using such multiplex assays enables simultaneous detection and differentiation of the different types of influenza infection in a single test, which will save laboratories time and expense.
"We are excited to be able to contribute to the fight against H5N1 virus with our expertise and know-how. Our technology has greatly simplified and accelerated the process of detection and identification of new H5N1 variants. Such information is especially critical when the virus mutates to become more dangerous, such as in drug resistance." said Dr Inoue.
Related Links:
Agency for Science and Technology Research
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
World Health Organization
Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Automatic Nucleic Acid Extractor
GeneRotex 24
Latest Microbiology News
- Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
- Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
- Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Decision Support Software a Game-Changer in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle
- New CE-Marked Hepatitis Assays to Help Diagnose Infections Earlier
- 1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New ADLM Guidance Provides Expert Recommendations on Clinical Testing For Respiratory Viral Infections
Respiratory tract infections, predominantly caused by viral pathogens, are a common reason for healthcare visits. Accurate and swift diagnosis of these infections is essential for optimal patient management.... Read more
3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models
Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more.jpg "Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)")
POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection
Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more
Highly Reliable Cell-Based Assay Enables Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Diseases
The conventional methods for measuring free cortisol, the body's stress hormone, from blood or saliva are quite demanding and require sample processing. The most common method, therefore, involves collecting... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Groundbreaking Molecular Diagnostic Kit to Provide Lyme Disease Detection in Minutes
Lyme disease, transmitted through tick bites, is a bacteria-caused illness that impacts 1.2 million individuals annually. The standard methods for diagnosing this disease include clinical examinations,... Read more
Novel Method Combining Nano Informatics and AI Paves Way for Cancer Blood Tests
Current diagnostic methods for cancer often fall short in terms of precision and efficiency. Traditional techniques, such as imaging scans and tissue biopsies, are invasive, costly, and time-consuming.... Read more
New Assay Detects Heart Failure Biomarker in Less than 11 Minutes
According to the Heart Failure Society of America, nearly 6.5 million Americans over the age of 20 suffer from heart failure, which accounts for about 8.5% of all heart disease deaths in the United States.... Read more
New Method for Lung Microbiomes Analysis Predicts Mortality in Children after Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant, also referred to as hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), serves as a critical treatment for children with leukemia, bone marrow failure, and various genetic disorders, including... Read moreHematology
view channel
Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns
Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more
First 4-in-1 Nucleic Acid Test for Arbovirus Screening to Reduce Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
Arboviruses represent an emerging global health threat, exacerbated by climate change and increased international travel that is facilitating their spread across new regions. Chikungunya, dengue, West... Read more
POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more
First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy
Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read moreImmunology
view channel
Blood Test Measures Immune Response to Epstein-Barr Virus in MS Patients
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition for which there is currently no cure. It affects around three million people globally and ranks as the second most common cause of disability... Read more.jpg "Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)")
AI Predicts Tumor-Killing Cells with High Accuracy
Cellular immunotherapy involves extracting immune cells from a patient's tumor, potentially enhancing their cancer-fighting capabilities through engineering, and then expanding and reintroducing them into the body.... Read more
Diagnostic Blood Test for Cellular Rejection after Organ Transplant Could Replace Surgical Biopsies
Transplanted organs constantly face the risk of being rejected by the recipient's immune system which differentiates self from non-self using T cells and B cells. T cells are commonly associated with acute... Read more
AI Tool Precisely Matches Cancer Drugs to Patients Using Information from Each Tumor Cell
Current strategies for matching cancer patients with specific treatments often depend on bulk sequencing of tumor DNA and RNA, which provides an average profile from all cells within a tumor sample.... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Tool Detects Tiny Protein Clumps in Microscopy Images in Real-Time
Over 55 million individuals worldwide suffer from dementia-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These conditions are caused by the clumping together of the smallest building blocks in the... Read more
New Tool Enables Better Classification of Inherited Disease-Causing Variants
Whole genome and exome sequencing are increasingly available for clinical research, aiding in the detection of inherited genetic variants that may cause various diseases. The American College of Medical... Read more
Groundbreaking CRISPR Screen Technology Rapidly Determines Disease Mechanism from Tissues
Thanks to over a decade of advancements in human genetics, scientists have compiled extensive lists of genetic variations linked to a wide array of human diseases. However, understanding how a gene contributes... Read more
Technology
view channel
Microneedle Patch Detects Skin Cancer Early
Wearable bioelectronics has emerged as a significant innovation in healthcare, especially in the field of biosensing, providing a new method to monitor individual health for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.... Read more
New Diagnostic System Achieves PCR Testing Accuracy
While PCR tests are the gold standard of accuracy for virology testing, they come with limitations such as complexity, the need for skilled lab operators, and longer result times. They also require complex... Read more
Industry
view channel
Roche and Hitachi High-Tech Extend 46-Year Partnership for Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Testing
Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and Hitachi High-Tech (Tokyo, Japan) have renewed their collaboration agreement, committing to a further 10 years of partnership. This extension brings together their long-standing... Read more
Danaher and Johns Hopkins University Collaborate to Improve Neurological Diagnosis
Unlike severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild TBI often does not show clear correlations with abnormalities detected through head computed tomography (CT) scans. Consequently, there is a pressing need... Read more
Beckman Coulter and MeMed Expand Host Immune Response Diagnostics Partnership
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and MeMed BV (Haifa, Israel) have expanded their host immune response diagnostics partnership. Beckman Coulter is now an authorized distributor of the MeMed... Read more_1.jpg "Image: Thermo Fisher will distribute Bio-Techne products across Europe (Photo courtesy of 123RF)")