The World Health Organization has given the green light to doctors in West Africa to administer a 15-minute Ebola detection test. The test will aid countries in stemming the spread of the virus. CBC reports:
Currently, well trained scientists conduct Ebola tests in special labs. They’re able to detect the virus’s nucleic acid in 12 to 24 hours.
On Friday, WHO announced the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit meets quality, safety and performance requirements to use in the context of the Ebola emergency.
"It is a little bit less accurate than a standard PCR test that we are currently using, but it's easy to perform, does not require electricity and it can be therefore used in lower health care facilities, lower level of health care facilities or in mobile units for patients in remote settings," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva.
Popular Science writes:
Until now, the standard way to check for Ebola in the region was to use the nucleic acid test, which works by identifying the genetic materials of the virus from a blood sample. Yet the test requires a full lab to succeed, and it takes between 12 to 24 hours to process the results. In comparison, the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test gets the job done in 15 minutes by testing a patient's blood for Ebola's antigen protein, which is distinguishable from other healthy proteins found in the body.
The rapid test isn't as precise as the full lab test, but it can still identify 92 percent of people infected with Ebola and 85 percent of those without the infection. This way, the quick test can easily identify who should at least enter quarantine, thus putting a damper on potential flare-ups. However, WHO does recommend following up the rapid test with a regular one to better assess if a patient has the infection.
