Swine flu ID test kits 'imminent'

By Chris Latchem and Katie Jones
BBC South

The CDC have said the swine flu virus could not be stopped

Scientists in Hampshire say they are on the verge of uncovering the first DNA test kits to identify swine flu.

The Southampton-based team said they had identified "a unique genetic tag" for the virus, which could help to identify and contain its spread.

Fears over the virus have grown since the US authorities said last week it could not be stopped.

Dr Rob Powell said of the kit: "We've designed it, and we're manufacturing it, testing it and validating it."

PrimerDesign, a team of genetic experts with links to the University of Southampton, specialises in the production of DNA identification kits.

Detection, surveillance and quarantine are the primary weapons against this strain Dr Rob Powell

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the genetic sequence of the virus on Monday.

Dr Powell, the PrimerDesign project co-ordinator, said: "We believe we've found a unique genetic tag for this virus that we can use to track and trace it with our DNA detection kits."

Speaking to the BBC, Dr Powell said he believed the team would have the identification kits ready as early as next week.

"This test will be fundamental to the global strategy for controlling the virus.

"The CDC has said the virus can't be stopped so it falls to local governments to try and stamp out local outbreaks as they occur and in order to do that, detection and identification of people who have become infected is a key component.

"Detection, surveillance and quarantine are the primary weapons against this strain at the current time."

The team will work throughout the Bank Holiday weekend to finalise the kit before the next critical step, working in collaboration with the Molecular Diagnostic Centre in Alicante, Spain, to get it clinically validated.

"Our tests could certainly speed things up. With our kit all pathology labs in the country would be able to make an immediate determination of swine flu," added Dr Powell.