The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Veredus Laboratories have launched VereVet, a portable Lab-on-Chip application that can detect, differentiate and identify nine major poultry infectious disease agents in one sample using a disposable biochip.
Scientists from the two organizations have been working on the poultry ‘laboratory on a chip’ (Lab-on-Chip) application since 2010.
Unlike the conventional method of testing which requires different samples for various tests, the application can detect multiple infectious disease agents affecting poultry using only one sample.
These disease agents include Newcastle Disease virus, Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Enteritidis, Campylobacter and Avian Influenza (bird flu) virus.
Besides validating the performance of the Poultry Lab-on-Chip by the two organizations, extensive evaluations on the Avian Influenza virus and Newcastle Disease virus were conducted at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Australia.
The detection of Avian Influenza virus includes all subtypes with special emphasis on H5, H7 and H9.
Scientific details were presented at the 17th International Symposium of World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians in Saskatoon, Canada, on June 16, 2015.
“Singapore is free from bird flu. However it continues to plague other countries in the region as well as other parts of the world,” said Tan Poh Hong, CEO of AVA.
“With the emergence of new strains, it may be a challenge to quickly identify the strain in question.”
“The new Lab-on-Chip, capable of rapidly identifying multiple poultry pathogens in one sample, enables authorities to take appropriate actions,” she said.
“This will, in turn, strengthen animal and public health for the region.”
