Test for Respiratory Infections

A new diagnostic test is designed to rapidly detect all strains of avian flu.

Genaco Biomedical Products (Huntsville, AL, USA) has announced that its Templex molecular diagnostic test can detect all known avian flu strains, as well as 24 other bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory infections, within four hours. Healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics can run the test with just one swab taken from a patient's mouth or nose.

Templex technology is currently in use by many international healthcare authorities for avian flu and respiratory illness detection, including the influenza laboratory of the Chinese Centers for Disease Control, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, and the U.S. Department of Public Health in New York City. Templex was deployed in China to detect and contain outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and in Vancouver (Canada) to stop a widely-reported outbreak of Streptococcus pneumonia.

Templex makes it possible to detect 20-40 pathogens at a time. Because of its multiplexing capabilities, Templex can detect 20-40 different bacterial or viral pathogens in one test. It can also detect multiple gene segments from the H5N1 virus so that even if one gene mutated, it could still be identified by analyzing other parts of its genes. The company claims it can adapt the test to detect any new virus mutation discovered within a week.

"Templex pinpoints avian flu within four hours, allowing for those who are infected to be quickly quarantined and those who are not to breathe more easily again.” said Dennis Grimaud, CEO of Genaco.




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