Fast, simple diagnostic test specific to 2014 Ebola outbreak
Date:
October 10, 2014
Source:
University of Southampton
Summary:
Researchers have
developed a fast and simple diagnostic test solution specific to the
2014 Ebola outbreak. With the current epidemic of Ebola virus in West
Africa, scientists are racing to provide an easy-to-use, affordable
solution for screening suspect Ebola patients.
Primerdesign kit.
Credit: Image courtesy of University of Southampton
High-tech
British company
Primerdesign Ltd, a spin-off company from the University of Southampton, has developed a fast and simple diagnostic test solution specific to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Primerdesign Ltd, a spin-off company from the University of Southampton, has developed a fast and simple diagnostic test solution specific to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
With the current epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa, Primerdesign
are racing to provide an easy-to-use, affordable solution for screening
suspect Ebola patients.
"Accurate diagnostics is essential in controlling an outbreak like Ebola. There is an urgent need for rapid testing to screen suspected patients and people travelling in and out of the region," explains Dr Jim Wicks, Managing Director of Primerdesign. "Our test is quick, affordable and easy to perform," he adds.
The kit detects the DNA finger print of the Ebola Virus. It means that even minute quantities of the disease can be detected in the early stages allowing for pre-emptive healthcare intervention.
Primerdesign Ltd, which is part of the university business incubator collaboration SETsquared, has finished development work in the last few days and is meeting with the World Health Organisation to discuss plans to possibly put large numbers of these tests in to the front line in West Africa as quickly as possible.
How the kit works
Viruses all have a unique genetic fingerprint the same as we do. Ours is encoded in DNA but the Ebola virus uses RNA (Ribonucleic acid). So the kit is designed to specifically detect the Ebola RNA in a patient blood sample.
Process:
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141010084047.htm
"Accurate diagnostics is essential in controlling an outbreak like Ebola. There is an urgent need for rapid testing to screen suspected patients and people travelling in and out of the region," explains Dr Jim Wicks, Managing Director of Primerdesign. "Our test is quick, affordable and easy to perform," he adds.
The kit detects the DNA finger print of the Ebola Virus. It means that even minute quantities of the disease can be detected in the early stages allowing for pre-emptive healthcare intervention.
Primerdesign Ltd, which is part of the university business incubator collaboration SETsquared, has finished development work in the last few days and is meeting with the World Health Organisation to discuss plans to possibly put large numbers of these tests in to the front line in West Africa as quickly as possible.
How the kit works
Viruses all have a unique genetic fingerprint the same as we do. Ours is encoded in DNA but the Ebola virus uses RNA (Ribonucleic acid). So the kit is designed to specifically detect the Ebola RNA in a patient blood sample.
Process:
- Blood sample is taken from patient
- RNA is extracted with a few simple steps
- RNA is placed in a tube with our kit ingredients
- Tube goes in to machine
- Analysis complete within 90 minutes
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141010084047.htm
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