Avian Flu Kit Appraised as Effective

A new kit combines a broad screening test, which detects both influenza A and B viruses, with highly specific detection of characteristic nucleic acids (RNA) of avian flu virus strains, including the deadly H5N1 strain.

The artus influenza/H5 LightCycler reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit is a product of Qiagen (Venlo, The Netherlands). The kit has successfully undergone the rigorous evaluation procedures of the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France). Qiagen's assay correctly identified 18 different human viruses, including 16 seasonal strains, two cases of human H5N1, and 12 avian strains covering seven distinct sub-types, including recent H5N1.

The Qiagen kit was evaluated in combination with Qiagen's QIAamp virus purification technology. Higher throughput performance of the Qiagen solutions was demonstrated in combination with the Qiagen BioRobot MDx automation platform, which could be well adapted for pandemic situations.

The artus influenza kit is based on real-time PCR technology. It is provided in a ready-to-use format and enables the detection of influenza viruses in human sputum and serum, as well as in throat and nasal swabs using the LightCycler instrument. Whereas classical procedures for characterization of influenza viruses take seven days, the new kit reduces the time of detection of the influenza virus genome and identification of the H5 sub-type to 75 minutes. In addition to the influenza-specific detection system, the artus influenza kit contains an internal control that confirms the successful RNA isolation and controls the enzymatic reaction.

Qiagen's artus influenza-detection products are for research use only (RUO). They have not been cleared or approved by regulatory authorities in the United States or Europe for human diagnostic or other clinical use, and are not intended and should not be used for human diagnostic or any other clinical purposes.



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