A global alliance for diagnostics has narrowed down the search for a rapid Ebola test to five potential manufacturers. The goal is to develop a rapid antigen test that can diagnose the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus, which has killed over 400 people in eastern Congo.
Current Testing Capacity Constrained
The current testing capacity is constrained, with only 10 laboratories able to test for the virus and a lack of infrastructure, including reliable power and paved roads, adding to the challenge of getting timely results from lab-based tests.
The five potential test manufacturers, selected from 21 candidates, include two in West Africa, one in the U.S., and two in South Korea. The first tests could reach the field in mid-July, with manufacturers selected based on their ability to quickly roll out thousands of tests.
The development of a rapid test would allow health workers to get results on the spot, helping them identify and isolate cases and better contain the ongoing outbreak. The International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS) has stated that antigen rapid diagnostic tests have the potential to dramatically accelerate case identification and isolation decisions.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
