Bird flu test kit set to take off

SINGAPORE - Pandemic preparedness has taken a stride forward with the development of a diagnostic kit which can detect, in a single test, all known strains of the H5N1 bird flu virus.
Developed by scientists in Singapore, this is the most comprehensive and rapid H5N1 bird flu test kit available to date. Within a couple of hours, doctors can detect all known strains of the H5N1 bird flu virus with almost 100-per-cent accuracy in a single test.

This provides patients with a clearer diagnosis and faster results, and enables governments and public health institutions to more effectively control the H5N1 virus.

In comparison, the current World Health Organisation gold standard for H5N1 detection can only detect three of the 10 distinct genetic groups. Scientists from the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and clinicians from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) started working on the kit in 2010. It is co-developed by Dr Masafumi Inoue, a senior research scientist and project director of technology development from ETC, and Dr Timothy Barkham, a senior consultant of laboratory medicine from TTSH.

The H5N1 test kit has been clinically validated by several hospitals in South-east Asia. Locally, it was commercialised and launched in all hospitals and laboratories this year. "While there have not been any reported H5N1 cases in Singapore, this mutating subtype of influenza virus type A continues to be a concern," said Dr Barkham. "The ability to detect and characterise influenza strains remains important in the management of the disease."

Scientists are regularly monitoring the mutation of the virus and will update the kit every six months to a year.  "Our technology has greatly simplified and accelerated the process of detection and identification of new H5N1 variants," said Dr Inoue. "Such information is especially critical when the virus mutates to become more dangerous, such as in drug resistance."

The kit is also compatible with the previously launched 4-plex influenza diagnostic kit to reduce the time and cost for laboratories and clinicians.  Dr Barkham added that the kit can be combined with the 4-plex influenza kit "to differentiate which strain of influenza is present with one test, giving a definite diagnosis and faster turnaround for our patients and colleagues in infection control and public health".
AITbiotech, a service provider for genomic services, will be the sole distributor of the kit in the South-east Asian region. The kit is targeted to be launched in South-east Asia this year.