January 10, 2007

Synbiotics' Flu Detect selected by FAO for bird flu detection
 

Flu Detect Antigen capture test Strip has been selected by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) to monitor and control the spread of bird flu in their global operations.

The announcement meant FAO subsidiaries all over Africa and the Middle East where bird flu outbreaks have occurred would be using Flu Detect. 

According to Christophe Calleja, DVM, marketing manager for Synbiotics, the company manufacturing the product, Flu Detect was chosen because of its proven performance and ease of use in field conditions.

As Flu Detect is a rapid in-field test, it has been adopted by several international agencies to be part of their First Response bird flu detection and containment programmes, said Dr Chinta Lamichhane, director of avian research development at Synbiotics.

Flu Detect detects all subtypes of Influenza Type A, even with a low virus load, and provides results in just 15 minutes. The test kit requires no refrigeration and is easily used in under-equipped conditions, making it attractive to many international agencies, said Calleja.