January 8, 2007—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced $11.4 million in new contracts to four companies working to develop new diagnostic tests that doctors and field epidemiologists could eventually use to quickly and accurately test patients for avian influenza H5N1 and other emerging flu viruses, as well as more common flu viruses.
CDC says that the tests could provide public health experts worldwide with critical information on the influenza viruses circulating and help monitor for viruses that could cause a global flu pandemic.
During the next year, the four companies will work to create tests that would detect seasonal human flu viruses and differentiate influenza A H5N1 from seasonal human influenza viruses within 30 minutes, explains CDC.
Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, the tests would also need to be quickly adapted if the virus mutates over time or if new viruses emerge that have the potential to cause a pandemic, adds CDC.
In providing the funding, the CDC hopes to advance work that will enable Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and commercialization of these products within two to three years.
For more information on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness, please visit pandemicflu.gov.
