Novel diagnostic tool to speed up flu testing

An international team of scientists have developed a novel system that would speed up influenza diagnosis.

The rapid, automated system is capable of differentiating strains of influenza.

In pandemic infection, such as the present H1N1 influenza outbreak, rapid automated tests are needed in order to make quick and effective public health decisions.

According to the researchers, Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) is a sensitive and specific method for identifying flu substrains; however, technician and assay time are significantly longer than less accurate rapid influenza diagnostic tests.

A team led by Dr Kelly J. Henrickson of the Medical College of Wisconsin have developed rapid semi- and fully-automated multiplex real-time RT-PCR assays to detect influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

These assays can successfully detect human H1N1, H3N2, and swine-origin H1N1 viruses as well as distinguish these from influenza B and RSV infections.

These assays could test large numbers of samples over a very short time, allowing for a significant decrease in both technician and assay time.

Researchers suggest, "this outbreak demonstrates the importance of having rapid, reliable, sensitive, and specific assays that allow clinicians and public health officials to react quickly and effectively during viral outbreaks."

The study appears in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.