Product category:
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
News Release from: Qiagen | Subject: Artus Influenza
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 27 February 2006
Qiagen products adopted for avian flu
surveillance
In a survey conducted at year-end 2005, Qiagen established that more than 80 institutions are now using its preanalytical products and test kits as standard tools in their H5N1 surveillance programmes
Qiagen, a provider of molecular diagnostics products and the world's premier supplier of solutions for preanalytical sample preparation, has announced rapid adoption of its broad product portfolio in avian flu (H5N1) detection and surveillance by major testing centres worldwide Qiagen believes that this represents a significant majority of all institutions involved in the global monitoring of this virus, making Qiagen the leading provider of molecular assays and preanalytical and assay components for avian flu, it says
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 20 Aug 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Tests for the avian flu (H5N1) virus using Qiagen tools are highly specific, sensitive and fast.
Subject to local regulatory requirements, they address both human and veterinary applications.
The assays are based on real-time PCR and include assays that detect H5 and H5N1 viruses within 75 minutes, with very high analytical sensitivity.
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"As the incidence of H5N1 begins to spread to more and more countries, it is increasingly important that tools are available to detect and monitor the virus quickly and efficiently.
"Our product portfolio for avian flu has been swiftly developed and deployed in the response to this global threat," said Peer Schatz, Qiagen's chief executive officer.
"In 2003, our Hamburg team was also the first to launch a molecular assay for Sars.
"This is now a further example of how Qiagen's technology leadership in solutions for pathogen testing has allowed us to act so rapidly and has a direct and significant impact in addressing this pandemic threat".
About the tests.
Qiagen's portfolio includes a specific avian flu (H5N1) detection kit targeting veterinary, import/export control and quarantine needs.
This test was launched in 2004 in Asia and was the first product approved by a governmental authority specifically to detect avian flu (H5N1) in animals.
The real-time RT-PCR detection methods for avian influenza virus, jointly developed with the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine, was approved as the new National Standards by the China State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (CSBTS) and China Association for Standardisation (CAS) for the Chinese markets in late 2005.
Qiagen's Artus Influenza/H5 LC RT-PCR kit is a specific, sensitive and fast test of avian virus and combines a broad screening test ( RealArt Influenza LC RT-PCR kit) which detects both influenza A and B viruses, with a highly specific detection of characteristic nucleic acids (RNA) of avian flu (H5N1) virus strains.
The test comes in a ready to use master mix format and can be combined with Qiagen's purification technology for virus RNA, Qiaamp .
This combination and an integrated control system dramatically reduce the risk of false results.
During the development of the assay the sequences of all H5N1 isolates known to date have been considered.
In addition, a number of protocols recommended by various government agencies to test for avian flu in animals and humans have adopted Qiagen tools as standard components.
Qiagen's influenza detection products are for research use only.
They have not been cleared or approved by authorities including the United States Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency in the United States, or under the European IVD Directive, for human diagnostic or other clinical use, and are not intended and should not be used for human diagnostic or any other clinical purposes.
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