Two Firms Join to Develop Quick Flu Test

A fast, lab-on-a-chip diagnostic test that will enable doctors to quickly detect strains of avian flue and other influenza viruses is being developed by STMicroelectronics (Geneva, Switzerland) and Veredus Laboratories (Singapore).

Using the In-Check platform of ST, Veredus is working on an application to specifically identify whether a patient is infected with the avian flu virus H5N1 or a subtype of influenza A or B in a single test, instead of requiring many tests. The companies hope to have the test available for the next flu season in the fall of 2006. The In-Check platform is a complete laboratory-on-a-chip. It allows users to accurately and reliably perform the processing and analysis of a minute sample on a single disposable chip, and also reduces the risk of cross-contamination. The results are detected by a portable reader using optical signal acquisition and processed by ST's bioinformatics software.

"The World Health Organization recently identified rapid detection as the first requirement in fighting avian flu, and ST's leading-edge semiconductor expertise--combined with Veredus' expertise in avian flu detection--will enable new possibilities for effective timely detection and treatment so that early containment of the infection will be possible,” said Anton Hofmeister, group vice-president and general manager for ST's microfluidic division.

"We are actively developing chips to detect dengue fever, malaria, West Nile virus, yellow fever, typhoid fever, Japanese encephalitis, and other diseases and anticipate that our products will greatly improve treatment choices,” added Dr. Rosemary Tan, CEO of Veredus.




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STMicroelectronics
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