New Test for H5N1, and New Findings Why Virus Is So Deadly (1/2)

Scientists continue to look for ways to deal with the deadly form of bird flu virus. Researchers in Singapore, for example, have developed a new test for the H5N1 virus. They call it a "lab on a chip."

If successfully marketed, the hand-held device could be used to look for cases in affected areas and help contain outbreaks. Project leader Juergen Pipper says medical or aid workers would know in less than half an hour if a person is infected.

The device tests material collected from a quick swab of a person's throat. The test uses magnetic force to control individual droplets containing added magnetic" class="hjdict" word="magnetic" target=_blank>magneticparticles. The scientists say the droplet itself becomes a little laboratory that can do things like pump, separate and mix. They note that an increasing number of similar tests are available to process cells, genetic material and proteins.

Juergen Pipper says the device can process complex tasks in a way similar to a traditionalbiologicallaboratory. The researchers say it works about ten times faster than current tests for the virus and could cost much less. The developers think the same idea could also be used to find other viruses, including those that cause AIDS, SARS and hepatitis B. Their research was published in Nature Medicine.

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科学家们仍在寻求解决致死性禽流感病毒的办法。比如新加坡的研究者开发了一种新的检测H5N1病毒的方法。他们称之为"芯片上的实验室"。

如果（这项测试）能够成功进入市场，那么这种便携装置可以用来搜寻受感染地区的病例并帮助控制发病。工程的负责人皮珀说医护人员不到半小时就能找到那个患病的。

这项装置检测从一个病人喉咙里用棉棒粘取的物质(以咽拭子为检测标本)。测试中使用磁力控制含有附加磁珠的每滴黏液。科学家说每一滴液体本身就是一个小型实验室，它们可以产生诸如抽吸、分离以及混合现象。他们注意到已经有很多类似的实验用在处理细胞、遗传物质和蛋白质中。

皮珀说这种装置可以进行类似传统生物实验室的复杂工作。研究者说它比目前对病毒的测试要快而且花费更少。开发者认为利用同样的设想可以寻找其它的病毒，包括那些引起爱滋病、非典和乙肝的病毒。他们的研究（成果）刊登在《自然医学》上。