Chinese scientists develop 15-minute MERS test

BEIJING: Chinese scientists have developed a test to diagnose Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that can give results in just 15 minutes.

Researchers from Hong Kong and Xiamen universities developed a diagnostic reagent that can be used in virus screening if the disease ever breaks out in China.

The reagent employs antigen diagnostics. Antigen diagnostics include detecting viral antigens that develop on the surface of cells infected with a specific virus.

"The antigen diagnostics are much easier to work with," said Zhang Jun, an infectious disease expert at Xiamen University.

"In contrast, nucleic acid diagnostics involve extracting RNA, which is time consuming and requires experienced technicians and specialised equipment," Zhang said.

The new reagent is efficient and can be used for a large number of tests. A single technician can process over 1,000 samples a day, state-run 'Xinhua' news agency reported.

MERS has killed 23 people and sickened more than 160 in the past month in South Korea, in the biggest outbreak outside the region where it was first seen in 2012.