LightMix Ebola Zaire Test Gets Approval from US FDA

The Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche has received an emergency authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for LightMix Ebola Zaire test for emergency use on patients with signs and symptoms of the deadly virus.

Mobile laboratories in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia currently use expensive and time-consuming tests that can take up to six hours. However, the new test can take as little as three hours.

Ebola Virus Disease | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Cause Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Ebola is caused by a virus via direct contact with body fluids or infected blood. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola or Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus.

The Ebola test, manufactured by German company TIB MOLBIOL GmbH, has also been given the European CE mark indicating it abides with the EU regulations.

Chief operations officer of Roche's diagnostics division, Roland Diggelmann said, "The LightMix Ebola Zaire test is an easy-to-use molecular diagnostic test providing a solution for healthcare professionals to quickly detect the virus and start patient treatment as early as possible.”

Source-Medindia

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