A quicker and more efficient way to test Ebola has received an approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA has just recently approved ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test, a type of Ebola test developed by the researchers of Tulane University with Corgenix Medical Corporation. It's just one of the many technologies that have gone through a speedy review, an FDA capability that's reserved only to those whose approval can help treat a serious condition such as Ebola.
It is a testing device that analyzes the blood sample obtained from a finger prick. Although the standard Ebola tests also involve finger pricking, this device has two huge advantages. First, it can detect the presence of the Ebola virus in as short as 15 minutes. This is very important since the disease requires immediate treatment. There's no cure for Ebola as of now although many companies are working on developing a vaccine. The current test can detect the virus within the next 2 to 3 days.
Second, it will be more efficient since it can process the blood sample without any laboratory equipment. Developing nations such as the three Western African countries badly hit by the virus usually have a very poor health infrastructure and more rural remote areas may not have complete equipment for testing and treatment.
The device, however, is meant only for people who are already exhibiting symptoms or at a very high risk of infection such as health workers and family members who have been caring or exposed to patients with Ebola. It cannot be used for screening, although the researchers believe that the device can still be used in airports if the travelers already have shown signs of infection.
The study was funded by National Institutes of Health for an amount of $2.9 million. It was also supplemented by two foundations of billionaires, namely, Paul Allen and Bill and Melinda Gates.
