Nucleic Acid Assay for West Nile Virus in Blood

A nucleic acid test for West Nile virus has been developed that is being used to screen donated blood for the virus.

The test is based on the nucleic acid technique called transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) of Gen-Probe Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA). TMA can improve the safety of the blood supply by directly detecting and amplifying viral nucleic acids in the test tube. The technology allows earlier detection of infection than immunologic tests, which require that antibodies or viral proteins reach desirable levels in the body. Gen-Probe's nucleic acid test was previously used to test retrospective, archived samples collected during the last summer's peak mosquito season to help establish disease prevalence.

As of the end of 2002, the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA) reported 4,156 cases of West Nile virus, with 284 deaths. In a small number of cases, transmission is believed to have occurred by transplanted organs or blood transfusion.

"This represents a significant milestone for Gen-Probe and the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, who were jointly committed to having a West Nile virus blood-screening test available in time for the 2003 mosquito season,” said Henry L. Nordhoff, chairman, president, and CEO of Gen-Probe.





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