How Fast is Ebola Diagnosis?

When it comes to infectious viruses that put the world on edge, Ebola definitely deserves a little credit. Since the West Africa outbreak in 2014, medical researchers have been working tirelessly to develop rapid testing procedures capable of detecting early infection.

So, have they succeeded? According to experts, Ebola diagnosis could soon become almost as easy as a take home pregnancy test.

Fast, efficient and affordable

Scientists are currently developing a system that uses intelligent paired antibodies to actively track down the deadly virus at a rate that’s faster and more efficient than current methods. The study was revealed at the latest American Society for Microbiology Biothreats meeting, with scientists maintaining that the technique could revolutionise diagnosis.

Currently, detecting Ebola’s genetic material in blood samples takes an entire day, and calls for access to a specialised laboratory. This makes it expensive, and time consuming. In comparison, the next generation method is fast, efficient and effective. It relies on antibodies, which are specialised proteins that actively latch onto Ebola virus particles. Similar to a pregnancy test, after 10 to 15 minutes of dotting a blood sample onto a piece of paper, a coloured strip confirms whether or not the Ebola virus is present.

A team effort from paired antibodies

So how does it work? University of Nevada immunologist Haley DeMers explains that the technique uses two antibodies. The first is tagged with gold nanoparticles, which actively extract virus particles from a sample. The tagged virus particles then wick up the paper, and are captured by a second antibody that reveals their presence in the form of a coloured line. Ultimately, it’s a stellar team effort.

The technique has already garnered positive laboratory results, with DeMers and her colleagues testing more than 1000 pairings on mice. They’re now in the process of pinpointing the five most effective combinations, and fast-tracking advanced trials.  

Is a cure in the works?

As for whether an Ebola cure is on the horizon? The latest findings suggest that the ultra-rare Childhood Alzheimer disease uses the same protein as the Ebola virus. Some experts maintain that the pattern could be used to gain insight into the behaviour of the Ebola virus, and potentially develop a potent cure.

In any laboratory, safety is paramount. For expert commentary on how to ensure the safety of the entire team, ‘How to Correctly and Safely Store Gases Within a Laboratory Setting’ is a must read article for any lab manager. It spotlights the importance of Comprehensive Risk Assessments, carried out in accordance with HSE (Health and Safety Executive) guidelines.