New Test for Human Metapneumovirus

A new laboratory test detects human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a recently discovered respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in young children or adults who are older or immune compromised.

The test synthesizes DNA by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification. The test is marketed by Focus Technologies (Herndon, VA, USA), which has licensed the rights to nucleic acid diagnostic testing technology for hMPV from ViroNovative, a spinoff from Erasmus University (Rotterdam, The Netherlands). New evidence implicates hMPV in repeat episodes of respiratory infection, with symptoms ranging from mild common cold-like symptoms in adults to severe bronchitis or bronchiolitis in young children with first-time infection.

"It is exciting to be able to provide diagnostic testing for an important new pathogen like hMPV,” said Charles C. Harwood, Jr., president and CEO of Focus Technologies. "Human metapneumovirus is generating a great amount of interest from scientists who are investigating the prevalence and clinical significance of this new virus.”




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