The pharmaceutical group Roche has developed a new PCR test for the detection of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus. The company completed the test within just six days of the genome sequence being published, Roche announced on Thursday.
The test specifically targets the rare Bundibugyo virus strain and is intended to help laboratories quickly build up testing capacity. This is urgently needed in view of ongoing outbreaks to contain the spread and improve surveillance, it said.
Roche pointed to its special capabilities in responding to outbreaks, which had enabled such rapid development. The new test is intended to enable laboratories to perform diagnostics promptly and thus contribute to containing the current outbreaks.
