Apr 10 2009
FDA approves Rapid Detection Test for Avian Flu
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a rapid test that can quickly determine whether or not a person is infected with deadly avian flu. The test is called as the “AVantage A/H5N1 Flu Test” and it can detect the A/H5N1 virus infection in less than 40 minutes.
The “AVantage A/H5N1 Flu Test” is manufactured by California based Arbor Vita Corporation. It detects the deadly virus from throat or nose swabs by identifying a marker protein that indicates the presence of the influenza A/H5N1 virus subtype. And the whole process takes just 40 minutes or less. During clinical studies it correctly detected the presence and absence of A/H5N1 virus subtype in more than 700 specimens.
Influenza A virus can infect both humans and animals. It’s subtype H5N1 is mostly found in birds and very rare for humans. But when it infects humans it becomes very deadly and may kill the infected person. Influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in humans are mainly reported from Asia and northern Africa.
FDA hopes that due to it’s fast detection ability, the “AVantage A/H5N1 Flu Test” will protect the public from the threat of bird flu pandemic. A bird flu pandemic may occur when the virus acquires the ability to easily infect humans through mutation. In that case the virus may create havoc by becoming resistant to antiviral drugs.
