Chip that can test bird flu

Chipping off from flu fears: A chip that can test for 11 strains of influenza virus including Bird Flu.

11 Nov, 2005, WASHINGTON: US researchers have claimed to have devised a chip that can test 11 different strains of influenza virus, including the deadly avian flu, that is creating panic in East Asia. The new chip, devised at the University of Colorado can diagnose flu in patients in much less time than what it takes now.

The test is still being validated and the researchers hope to develop it into an on-the-spot test for influenza. Kathy Rowlen, a biochemistry professor and one of those who devised the chip said that the present strain analysis takes more than three days before the virus gets identified. By which time, a virulent strain can become deadly and human-adapted. The current quick tests for influenza tell can only give a yes or no answer on whether the patient is infected or not; and cannot differentiate among strains. 

Experts fear that a pandemic could emerge owing to the flu virus’ tendency to mutate into several strains and circulating at any time. Influenza takes about 2.5 to 5 lakh lives globally every year. And the experts fear that the mutated strains could kill ‘better’ leading to a pandemic.

The avian flu virus, a virulent H5N1 strain is the main threat now, especially in parts of Asia and Europe. It killed half of those who got affected with it. As the experts fear, it could mutate into forms that can easily spread from person to person. And this is where quick diagnosis becomes imperative. Rowen’s lab helped researchers in working towards tracking such strains. 

Doctors, to start appropriate medication, need to know what strain of virus it is and samples sent for confirmation takes many days. Antiviral drugs need to be put into action in humans within 48 hours of contraction, so that the illness becomes less severe. Tracking anyone who may be affected also needs speedy diagnosis.

This device, a chip, can be configured to test any flu strain with more than 90 per cent accuracy, the university said. It has been vouchsafed by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rowlen hopes that the chip would help in better surveillance of the illness and in turn help health officials to check potential flu epidemics and pandemics. Her team is working towards making the process simpler and easy to use.