Why is the US behind Germany in SARS research?
German Group Develops SARS Antibody Test
Tue May 27, 2003 10:29 AM ET
BERLIN (Reuters Health) - A test that detects antibodies to the strain of coronavirus found in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been developed by researchers at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin.
The test uses a lab technique called immunflourescence to check for the presence of anti-coronavirus antibodies in the blood.
"A test such as this one, which will soon be generally available, is an important step toward diagnosing the disease and gaining a better understanding of the progress of the disease," said Dr. Reinhard Kurth, president of the Robert Koch Institute.
Kurth said the institute was working together with a company to make the test commercially available as soon as possible.
Importantly, the test can distinguish between those patients who have been infected with the SARS coronavirus strains and those who have only come down with symptoms similar to SARS, the institute said.
"This test will mean that doctors can quickly see whether a patient really does have SARS, or if a patient only has symptoms similar to the clinical symptoms of SARS," Kurth said.
The new test will also help doctors gather vital information about how SARS spreads, according to the researchers.
"With the help of this test, doctors will be able to find out how quickly SARS spreads between people and how. We will be able to find out whether there are people who are infected with the SARS virus, but who nevertheless do not come down with the clinical symptoms of SARS," Kurth said. |
