Detection of the H5N1 virus strain by a test

Singapore scientists have developed a diagnostic tool that can detect all H5N1 avian influenza strains with a single test.

This is the most comprehensive and rapid detection of H5N1 virus ever. Within a few hours, physicians can detect all strains of H5N1 avian influenza with almost 100% accuracy in a single test.

This provides patients with clearer and faster diagnostic results, helping the government and health organizations control the H5N1 virus more effectively.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization's gold standard for detecting H5N1 can detect only 3 out of 10 individual genotypes.

The kits were developed by scientists from the Center for Experimental Medicine (ETC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR) and clinicians Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). from 2010.

Dr. Masafumi Inoue, senior research scientist and director of technology development project ETC, and Dr. Timothy Barkham, a senior consultant of the co-inventor of the TTSH Hospital Medical Laboratory. this kit.

The H5N1 test kit has been clinically validated at several hospitals in Southeast Asia.

In Singapore, the kit has been commercialized and put into use in all hospitals and laboratories this year.

However, scientists still need to regularly monitor the virus mutations and will update the kit afterwards from every six months to a year.

Dr Inoue said the technology simplified and accelerated the detection and identification of new H5N1 variants and that such findings are particularly important when vius variants become more dangerous, out of drug resistance.

The kit is also compatible with the earlier 4-plex influenza diagnostic kit, which reduces the time and costs for laboratories and clinicians.

Dr. Barkham added that the kit could be combined with a "4-plex" kit to distinguish new influenza strains with one trial, providing a positive diagnosis and faster transformation. In the control of infection, serve the public health.

Singapore is aiming to bring this product to use in Southeast Asia this year.