Chinese scientists have invented a protein chip that makes possible a more rapid diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in laboratories.
Jointly designed by scientists with the Life-Science Institute of the China Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai-based Shukang Biotech Co. Limited, the macromolecule chip containing all protein information of the SARS virus can identify the disease in blood serum.
Researcher Hu Gengxi with the academy said that the testing process requires only one and a half hours and has shown a great accuracy.
With the protein chip, doctors can not only spot SARS patients and suspect cases but also promptly monitor the latest development of the virus, Hu said.
As the present diagnosis is mainly done through clinical observation for symptoms like fever and dry cough, a decrease of white blood cells and shadows in the lung, the invention can help doctors do a general test on people's blood serum in laboratories and therefore detect the virus at an early stage.
(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2003)
