Rapid bird flu test research presented in Paris

Research on a rapid bird flu test, prepared by Western Australia's Murdoch University School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, will be presented at the second International Anti-Avian Influenza conference in Paris at the Pasteur Institute on 31 May and 1 June 2007.

The conference brings together world specialists in the field of avian influenza to discuss the latest scientific advances and strategies to avoid a human pandemic by treating and preventing the epizooty (a disease that is epidemic among animals).

Singapore-based company Rockeby backed the research, and CEO Dr Sze-Wee Tan will attend the conference to outline the research.

Researchers from Murdoch University reported the results of five influenza antigen detection tests in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Avian Diseases.

The tests included two rapid chromatographic immunoassays (one was Rockeby's rapid test), an H5 HA antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), influenza A antigen detection ELISA, and an H5 rapid immuno-blot assay.

Avian influenza H5N1 virus swab samples were used to estimate sensitivity of the diagnostic tests, including H5N1 infected swabs from various bird species such as chickens, ducks and geese.

"The results indicated that these antigen detection tests could be used for preliminary investigation of H5N1 outbreaks as a low-cost, simple flock test in sick and dead birds for the rapid detection of H5N1 infection," Tan said.