Veterinarian researchers from The University of Queensland are diagnosing the Hendra virus in horses quicker than before, by developing a diagnostic point-of-care kit capable of detecting pathogen in under an hour rather than days.
The process involves taking samples from potentially infected horses and inactivates any virus which could be present in the samples. The non-infectious samples are then tested using a molecular diagnostics machine known as LAMP Genie III.
Pending final approval by the QLD Chief Veterinary Officer, the Genie machine and associated LAMP kits will be available for veterinarians to purchase.