China produces portable Ebola testing kits

Portable Ebola testing kit (Photo courtesy of Xinhua News via Philippine News Agency)

BEIJING — A Chinese health researcher said on Friday that China has successfully produced portable kits to help with Ebola virus testing.

The kits use a diagnostic method based on viral RNA detection. They will be easier to use compared to lab testing, according to Li Dexin, a research fellow of the National Institute For Viral Disease Control and Prevention under the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chinese researchers have worked with the France-based Pasteur Institute and conducted tests on the product.

China has the ability to test for the Ebola virus through viral RNA, antigen and antibody detection methods, which will also be used in Sierra Leone.

A 59-member Chinese laboratory team departed for Sierra Leone on Tuesday to help West African countries contain the Ebola epidemic.

As there is no effective vaccine or specific treatment to deal with the disease so far, early diagnosis is very important, Li said.

The new products are expected to significantly help the prevention and control of the disease both in West African countries and China, the researcher said.

Li said China has investigated over 80 cases of suspected Ebola patients and infection has been ruled out in most of them.