January 18, 2006

Diagnostic chip for bird flu virus developed

A diagnostic chip to identify various flu viruses has been developed and is expected in the market by the end of this year according to a Channel NewsAsia report on Wednesday.

Veredus Laboratories and ST Microelectronics, two Singapore-based companies have jointly developed a diagnostic chip for various types of flu viruses including the bird flu virus. Believed to be the world's first diagnostic kit of its kind, the chip is able to identify a case of flu and show the virus type in about an hour.

The chip will undergo clinical trials worldwide in April, the report said, adding that it can even adapt to mutations of the flu virus.

The two companies expect the chip to help control avian flu outbreaks in both animals and humans and reduce healthcare costs by offering earlier diagnoses. It will be ready by the year-end in time for the next flu season.

Veredus Laboratories is a medical diagnostics research company while ST Microelectronics is a manufacturer of semiconductor integrated circuits.

In November last year, another Singapore-based biotechnology company, Rockeby Biomed, launched bird flu test kits for poultry and humans.