New U.S. flu detector to quickly identify strains of virus

U.Sresearchers have developed a newof influenza virus detectioninstrument that can quickly detect up to 9
2different strains of influenza virus, including several different strains of the H5N1 avian influenza virusThe influenza virus detector, called the T5000 Mass Spectrometry Detector, was developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals of CaliforniaThe company's research and development staff in the latest issue of the online open journal " Public Library of Science Medicine" reported that theinstrumentonly four hours to identify the specific strain of influenza virus, accuracy rate of up to 97%To test the feasibility and accuracy of the device, isin collaboration with the U.SArmy Institute of Infectious Disease medicine,, johns Hopkins University,, andtestedfor a range of influenza viruses,results were successfully detected and identified in mammals and birds
of influenza virus estrains,
containing 29
H5N1 strains of the virusAccording to the introduction,the new instrument for testing when,first through the "polymerase chain reaction" to enlarge the genetic material of the virus sample, so that it is easy to detect, and then through advanced mass spectrometry analysis technology to identify the type of virus strainBecause the device is cumbersome and portable, and the price is as high as $400,000 to $500,000 per unit, researchers suggest that the device be used in theof largehospitalslarge-scale to detect the new drug-resistant avian influenza virus (
reprinted from "Xinhuanet")