New test for Ebola takes just 15 minutes

A TEST that can diagnose Ebola in just 15 minutes has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

New Ebola epidemic has claimed over 9,000 lives since last yearGETTY

New Ebola epidemic has claimed over 9,000 lives since last year

The ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit is based on detection of the Ebola protein in the blood.

WHO said the test is rapid, easy to perform and does not require electricity.

“It can therefore be used at lower health care facilities or in mobile units for patients in remote settings,” the UN health agency added.

The Ebola epidemic has killed more than 9,000 people worldwide since it began spreading in West Africa last year, with the three worst affected countries being Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The new method is less accurate than the Nucleic acid tests (NATs) that have previously been used but offers a far quicker way of identifying the disease.

The new test isn’t about saving the lives of infected people, but it can help in the long run by making it easier and quicker to detect Ebola outbreaks

Dr Ben Neuman

The agency said NATs require established laboratories and fully trained personnel and can take between 12 and 24 hours.

When compared with the results of an NAT previously listed by WHO and currently being used in the field, the new test was able to identify about 92% of Ebola infected patients and 85% of those who were not infected with the virus.

The agency said it is therefore recommending that where possible, results should be confirmed by using an NAT as well.

Dr Ben Neuman, lecturer in virology at the University of Reading, said: “The new antigen test is not a game-changer, but it is another useful tool in the fight against Ebola.

“The new test is small, cheap and portable, but is less sensitive than the gold-standard test that is used to diagnose early-stage Ebola in the clinics now. The new test could help to quickly confirm outbreaks in remote areas without the need to send samples to a testing clinic and wait for results.

“The new test isn’t about saving the lives of infected people, but it can help in the long run by making it easier and quicker to detect Ebola outbreaks.”

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