Bengaluru, 21
th Feb, 2015 - WHO has
assessed and today listed the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit (Corgenix, USA) as
eligible for procurement to Ebola affected countries. The test was evaluated
under WHO’s Emergency Assessment and Use, a procedure established to provide
minimum quality, safety and performance assurance for diagnostic products in
the context of the Ebola emergency.
Ebola is
currently being tested in laboratories largely through the detection of the
virus’s nucleic acid (genetic material), using commercial or in-house tests. Nucleic acid tests
(NATs) are more
accurate but are complex to use and require well-established laboratories and
fully trained personnel. In addition, turn-around time can vary between 12 and
24 hours.
The ReEBOV
Antigen Rapid Test, which can provide results within 15 minutes, is based on
detection of the Ebola protein rather than nucleic acid. When compared with the
results of a NAT previously listed by WHO and currently being used in the field
(RealStar®
Filovirus Screen RT-PCR Kit 1.0, altona Diagnostics GmbH), ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test is able to correctly
identify about 92% of Ebola infected patients and 85% of those not infected with the virus.
While less
accurate, the antigen test is rapid, easy to perform and does not require
electricity – it can therefore be used at lower health care facilities or in
mobile units for patients in remote settings. Where possible, results from
ReEBOV antigen Rapid Test Kit should be confirmed by testing a new blood sample
using an approved Ebola NAT. ## amit.sunrisemirror@gmail.com##
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