Researchers develop comprehensive H5N1 test kit

12 June 2012 | EN

Scientists hope the new test kit could halt the spread of global bird flu

Flickr/ILRI

[MANILA] Scientists in Singapore have developed a diagnostic kit that can detect all known strains of avian influenza (H5N1) virus within a few hours — a medical breakthrough, which is expected to limit chances of a global pandemic.

Scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have developed the most comprehensive and rapid H5N1 test kit to date — the H5N1 real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay.

At present, the World Health Organization-recommended H5N1 diagnostic kit can detect only three out of ten distinct genetic groups. The other seven can be detected, but not within a single test.

The newly developed kit is capable of detecting all known strains of the H5N1 virus accurately and rapidly, with a single test.

"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," said Masafumi Inoue, senior research scientist at A*STAR.
Alongside Timothy Barkham,..

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