November 16, 2005

US researcher develops rapid bird flu test

Lu Huaguang, a US researcher at Pennsylvania State University, has reportedly developed a bird flu test that yielded results in one day, compared with three or four days using other tests.

Lu said detecting bird flu quickly was important, to contain any outbreak before the virus had the opportunity to mutate into a deadlier strain that could easily spread among humans.

The researcher has been sharing his expertise with Cambodian and Laotian officials, and has helped set up labs for testing and diagnosis in Southeast Asia. He has also been working with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization to establish a training center at Pennsylvania State University, to allow veterinarians worldwide to visit and learn more about bird flu.

Quick response to any bird flu outbreak was needed in South Asia, as "they don't have this system," he added. 

Lu's dot-ELISA (dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) bird flu test was also cheap at about US$0.50, compared with US$18 for typical commercial tests.

The test allowed the H5 and H7 bird flu subtypes to be identified. Lu said these subtypes were "highly dangerous" as they had the "potential to mutate."

H5N1 bird flu has already infected millions of birds in Southeast Asia and has claimed dozens of human lives there.