FluChip-8G Tested in US and China for Rapid Characterization of Influenza Viruses
Duke and Duke Kunshan University collaborating with InDevR Inc. to test the new influenza subtyping assay for enhanced surveillance
November 14, 2018 – Scientists at Duke Kunshan University and Duke University are collaborating with InDevR Inc. to evaluate the FluChip-8G Insight system for the rapid identification of the influenza virus subtype from human and animal samples.The FluChip-8G test promises to be a faster and easier way to determine the subtype of seasonal and non-seasonal influenza viruses. It has the potential to reduce influenza A and B characterization times from two weeks to eight hours.
“Knowing that a patient is infected with a dangerous influenza virus could lead to early antiviral treatment, isolation of the patient, and early identification and mitigation of the virus source, which could save lives,” said Professor Gregory Gray, the Principal Investigator for Duke Kunshan and Duke University.
Study teams at Duke Kunshan and Duke are employing the FluChip-8G test alongside standardized WHO/CDC rRT-PCR tests that are currently used for Gray’s research in zoonotic influenza virus epidemiology.
The study will use specimens collected by the Duke Kunshan team and collaborators in Vietnam, China, Malaysia and the U.S.
In the United States, specimens will come from Duke University Hospital’s Department of Clinical Virology, Wake Forest University’s Department of Clinical Virology, and the North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, as well as a swine veterinarian from the U.S. Midwest.
“We are excited to participate in the multi-month field validation of this technology,” said Haiyan Gao, vice chancellor for academic affairs at Duke Kunshan and Henry Newson Professor of Physics at Duke University.
“This collaboration shows the research strength of Duke Kunshan is widely recognized. It is also a typical example of how joint research projects between China and the United States can make people’s lives better,” Gao said.
Influenza — commonly known as the flu — is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. Influenza A and B viruses are the two types that most commonly infect humans. Influenza A viruses spread between animals and humans and sometimes cause epidemics.
Based in Boulder, Colorado USA InDevR is a leader in progressive new diagnostic and analytical technologies that enable accelerated development and manufacturing of vaccines and other bio-therapeutics.
Advanced development of this new molecular test, which was designed to improve pandemic preparedness, was funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (HHSO100201400010C, HHSO100201400024C), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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More information about the FluChip-8G platform can be found at:
https://www.indevr.com/products/fluchip/
More information about Duke’s and DKU’s One Health team can be found at:
http://sites.globalhealth.duke.edu/dukeonehealth/
Media Contacts:
Shannon Rodriguez
InDevR Inc.
303-402-9100
Zhou SU
Manager of Communications
Duke Kunshan University | 昆山杜克大学
No. 8 Duke Avenue, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China 215316
T: (+86) 0512 3665 7214
Michael Penn
Director of Communications, Marketing and Alumni Relations
Duke Global Health Institute
Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
(919) 681-7718