Veredus’ VereFlu Chip Detects H7N9 Bird Flu

Its VereFlu lab-on-a-chip platform has been shown to detect the H7N9 avian flu subtype that is responsible for the recent flu outbreak in China.

AsianScientist (Apr. 15, 2013) – Singapore-based biotech Veredus Laboratories’ VereFlu lab-on-a-chip platform can be used to quickly and accurately detect the current subtype of H7N9 avian flu that is responsible for the recent flu outbreak in China, says the company.

To date, a total of 43 patients have been laboratory confirmed with influenza A (H7N9) virus in China; including 11 deaths. More than a thousand close contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored.

Launched in 2008 and built on the STMicroelectronics lab-on-chip platform, VereFlu rapidly detects all major influenza types at the point of need within two hours with high accuracy and sensitivity, says the company.

In addition to the current H7N9 avian flu, the company says that VereFlu can also identify and differentiate human subtypes of Influenza A (H1, H3, H5, H7, H9) and B viruses, including the avian flu subtype H5N1, and the 2009 pandemic H1N1/2009, all in a single test.

“After learning of the outbreak in China, we have confirmed in silico that our current VereFlu influenza panel is able to detect the subtype of H7N9 responsible for this outbreak in addition to other human Flu A and B infections,” said Rosemary Tan, CEO of Veredus.

“This confirms our vision when we designed the panel for the need to have a multiplexed molecular test to detect not only the typical seasonal influenza subtypes but also novel emerging subtypes, including the current H7N9 subtype, capable of making the jump from animals to humans,” she adds.

Founded in 2003, Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based majority-owned subsidiary of semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics.

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Source: Veredus Laboratories.
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