| ■ Portable Machine Speeds Bird Flu Diagnosis | 2008.08.19 |
| A portable testing machine that can diagnose human cases of bird flu in about two hours is being developed by researchers at Nottingham Trent University in Great Britain. At the moment, it takes about one week for lab testing to confirm bird flu. Using a swab of saliva taken from a patient's mouth, the unit can detect molecules specific to the potentially deadly H5N1 virus or other bird flu strains, BBC News reported. Quicker identification of H5N1 means patients can start treatment sooner, which may improve their odds of survival. The machine may also boost efforts to contain outbreaks. "There's a large train of thought that one of the best ways of dealing with avian influenza is by detection and containment," said researcher Dr. Alan McNally, BBC News reported. "The ability to detect and type the influenza virus immediately is essential in setting up controls as quickly as possible to minimize the spread of any potential pandemic virus." |