Materia Medica Malaysiana

USM Scores A First In Rapid Diagnostics Kit For Typhoid

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have scored a world's first in coming out with a rapid diagnostics kit for typhoid.
The kit produced by a research team headed by Prof Asma Ismail can detect the disease in patients in as little as 15 minutes.
According to a statement released by the university here Thursday, the kit named TYPHIRAPID-IgM has been used to help the Kota Bharu Hospital in Kelantan in tackling the recent outbreak of typhoid in the state.
Besides antibodies tests, the researchers also succeeded in inventing a DNA testing kit called EZTYPHI Carrier DNA to detect the presence of specific genes of the Salmonella Typhi bacteria, which causes the disease.
The team further found a new testing method for identifying carriers of typhoid more easily and accurately.
The test which uses the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method takes about two hours to identify carriers among food operators and illegal immigrants.