AIIMS launches national facility for bird flu testing

NEW DELHI: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences today launched a national facility for bird flu testing.
      
The facility utilises nucleic acid sequence based amplification technology for the amplification of desired genes of pathogen and also provides the pathogen load.
      
A patented technology called "minimag" extracts both the DNA and RNA from any sample including human and animal
blood, urine, feces, bird beat, saliva or meat.
      
The facility would be used to diagnose and control bird flu outbreaks at an early stage.
      
Besides, bird flu, other diseases which will be diagnosed and monitored include HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis.