Avian Influenza H5N1 Diagnostic Kit Launched

Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd have launched three patented molecular diagnostic kits using technologies licensed from Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd – the commercialization arm of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore through the Industry & Technology Transfer Office (INTRO) - its technology transfer office, and a unit under the NUS Enterprise Cluster.

The Avian Influenza H5N1 Diagnostic Kit, one of the world’s first commercially available is a highly sensitive kit that detects a gene specific to the H5N1 strain in under four hours.

Utilising proprietary nucleic acid diagnostic primers developed by A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), the kit’s rapid and reliable test for detection of the H5N1 strain can be used to aid in the fight against this disease. The kit has been tested in avian samples in Vietnam and Malaysia with excellent results showing no crossreactivity to other pathogens.

During the field trials, the kit was able to detect all H5N1 positive samples derived from eggs and pooled organs.

The other two diagnostic kits that Veredus has launched are the:
• Malaria Diagnostic Kit – based on technologies developed jointly by A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and NUS, the DNA-based diagnostic test will allow early and rapid confirmation of malaria infection as well as identifying the specific species of the malaria parasite causing the infection.

The enhanced sensitivity of this test allows patients to be tested early in the infections with only a drop of blood. Tests have been conducted on more than 3000 samples in many countries including India, Pakistan, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Columbia.

• Dengue Fever Diagnostic Kit – The dengue diagnostic kit has been used for more than three years as a routine diagnostic test at the National University Hospital, Singapore. The kit has also been used or evaluated by the Ministry of the Environment (Singapore). It provides rapid and reliable diagnosis of dengue infection with the ability to differentiate all four serotypes, with high sensitivity and specificity. This test is able to diagnose dengue infection from day 2 of infection, as compared to conventional tests which can only detect from at least day five of infection; enabling earlier medical attention for the patient, especially for potential complications of haemorrhage and shock.