Starting March, STADA will be taking over sales of device-independent rapid test for Ebola developed by Senova. To be added to the pharmaceutical company's lineup of diagnostic products, the new rapid test will be able to detect Ebola infections in the advanced stages within minutes.
Intended for use exclusively by medical professionals the new test will allow for the quick isolation of Ebola patients. This will also pave the way for further diagnostic tests to be initiated sooner, speeding up and simplifying quarantine management in disaster areas.
Based on a proven lateral flow principle, the new test is independent of a power supply, making it convenient to use on the field. Various samples may also be used to test for the Ebola virus, like serum obtained from a mechanically treated sample of blood.
To do an analysis, the sample is simply fed to the testing system. When an antigen is detected, information alerting medical professionals to its presence will be provided. To prove reliability, Senova carried out actual tests in Guinea using samples from real specimens.
Rapid detection of the Ebola virus will not only aid in speeding up treating the sick but will also help ensure that ample protection is provided when the dead are being disposed. Many die of unknown causes but thanks to viral loads being high in people who have died from Ebola, a mere throat swab can easily be tested to quickly identify which corpses must be handled with more care.
"We are therefore very pleased to be working with Senova: our areas of expertise perfectly complement one another and together we can now offer the aid organizations and community teams in the Ebola areas a rapid test, which detects infection faster than previously possible, thus contributing to the further containment of the Ebola epidemic," said Lothar Guske, STADApharm managing director.
Each rapid test kit will contain all the materials necessary to assess a sample, including instructional manuals in French, German and English. Hospitals and organizations may be able to procure the test kits directly from STADA or one of the pharmaceutical company's wholesalers. Each rapid test kit will cost $3.62 net.
Since the outbreak began, more than 22,500 have been infected while over 9,000 people have died, with the West African nations Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone most heavily affected. Out of those the virus claimed, 488 are health workers, many volunteers, pitching in to curb Ebola.
