A 15-minute test for Ebola to undergo trials in Guinea
The kit could lead to better infection control as medical staff can identify and isolate confirmed cases of Ebola faster, and start treating patients sooner
New Delhi: It may soon be possible to diagnose Ebola in 15 minutes if the trials for a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for the virus are successful at a treatment centre in Conakry, Guinea.
The test is six times faster than examinations currently in use. Clinical trials are expected soon.
Developed by Britain’s Wellcome Trust and department for international development (DFID), the kit could lead to better infection control as medical staff can identify and isolate confirmed cases of Ebola faster, and start treating patients sooner.
The trial, led by researchers at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, will be carried out using a solar-powered mobile suitcase laboratory.
The portable laboratory includes a solar panel, a power pack and a laptop-sized results reader. As is the case with current tests, the new test detects the genetic material of the virus. The pilot trial will test the safety and efficacy of the kit when using Ebola patients’ blood and saliva samples.
The reactants used in the test are available as dried pellets, which are cold chain independent, and can be used and transported at room temperature.
“A reliable, 15-minute test that can confirm cases of Ebola would be a key tool for effective management of the Ebola outbreak—allowing patients to be identified, isolated and cared for as soon as possible. It not only gives patients a better chance of survival, but it prevents transmission of the virus to other people," said Val Snewin, international activities manager at the Wellcome Trust.
Snewin further said this study is particularly promising because researchers have considered how to make the test suitable for use in remote field hospitals, where resources, such as electricity and cold storage, are often in short supply.
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