Quick diagnosis lits new hopes for dengue fever patients

06/01/2007 -- 9:02 PM

Ha Noi (VNA) - A new genetic technology could cut the diagnosis time for dengue fever from two hours down to just 45 minutes, said scientists. A group of researchers from the Biotechnology Institute under the Academy of Science and Technology have successfully engineered the product by applying the recombination DNA technique, which gives much more precise results. The new product is very cheap compared to the traditional method and even between eight and 10 times lower than imported products, said Nguyen Tien Minh, a member of the research team. Scientists can now raise recombination viruses within only 24 hours to create a quantity of protein sufficient to run thousands of tests whereas the traditional technology obliged them to farm viruses on cells or mice to have the necessary proteins, Minh explained. The new technology is easy to apply, making it possible to be applicable in grassroot medical stations, Minh added. All these new advantages will enable medical doctors to find suitable and timely treatment and epidemiologists to take punctual measures to zone off the dengue fever-stricken areas and control the spread of the epidemic. The new method will also help in researching suitable vaccines against the disease, said the scientist. The team is still digging deep with research to develop it into a quick test kit with the aim of cutting the diagnosis time to just 15 minutes.--Enditem
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