New portable biosensor detects avian influenza.

• Position: Science & Technology

A portable biosensor for in-field, rapid screening of avian influenza virus has been developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Yanbin Li, professor of biological engineering in the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville.

The device specifically and sensitively detects the avian influenza strain H5N1 from poultry cloacal and tracheal swab samples in less than 30 minutes and could help health officials coordinate a rapid response for the eradication, quarantine, and vaccination of animals.

"Rapid detection is the key to controlling the spread of avian influenza," Li says. "Techniques currently used to detect the disease are either time consuming, too expensive, or not specific to subtypes of avian influenza viruses. Our device provides robust and reliable results and introduces the concept of real-time detection to facilitate a coordinated and rapid response."

Avian influenza virus H5N1 was discovered in the late 1990s. Animal cases have been noted in more than 46 countries, and 10 have reported human infection. As of early this year, according to the World Health Organization, 269 people have been infected, and 163 have died since 2003 due to avian influenza. A draft report of the Federal government's emergency plan...