Have Researchers Developed a Simple Diagnostic Test for Ebola?

British company Primerdesign Ltd, a spin-off company from the University of Southampton, has developed a fast and simple diagnostic test solution specific to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

With the current epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa, Primerdesign are racing to provide an easy-to-use, affordable solution for screening suspect Ebola patients.

“Accurate diagnostics is essential in controlling an outbreak like Ebola. There is an urgent need for rapid testing to screen suspected patients and people travelling in and out of the region,” explains Dr Jim Wicks, Managing Director of Primerdesign. “Our test is quick, affordable and easy to perform,” he adds.

The kit detects the DNA finger print of the Ebola Virus. It means that even minute quantities of the disease can be detected in the early stages allowing for pre-emptive healthcare intervention.

Primerdesign Ltd, which is part of the university business incubator collaboration SETsquared, has finished development work and is meeting with the World Health Organization to discuss plans to possibly put large numbers of these tests in to the front line in West Africa as quickly as possible.

According to the company, the test kit is designed to specifically detect Ebola RNA in a patient blood sample. The process works as follows:

• Blood sample is taken from patient
• RNA is extracted with a few simple steps
• RNA is placed in a tube with our kit ingredients
• Tube goes in to machine
• Analysis complete within 90 minutes

Source: University of Southampton