can rapid RT-PCR or other tests be used?
The ProMEd moderator yesterday quoted a comment sent to ProMed by Mary Marshall: “We also need to learn more about the risk of silent carriers: how long are they able to shed virus, and can rapid RT-PCR or other tests be used? … With FMD 2001 in the UK, there was no attempt to collect data for future epidemiological work. I hope the same mistakes aren’t being made now.” The US Defense Department has installed PCR capability for avian influenza in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In spite of its now widespread use in the detection of AI and other pathogens , we hear nothing at all from the UK politicians or establishment scientists about rapid on-site testing using RT-PCR. It will be very interesting to see what reaction greets the demonstration of rapid RT-PCR at the Manchester Conference in March. Speakers at that conference will be genuine experts in various aspects of foot and mouth disease and the parallels with avian influenza will undoubtedly be discussed. February 28th 2006 ~ Av
