Simple nasal swab can provide early warning of stealthy viruses: Lancet study
Public health officials typically look to a few sources for warning signs of emerging disease. They study emerging viruses in animals that may transmit the infection
to humans. However, determining which of the so many new viral variants represent a true danger is difficult. They also look for outbreaks of unexplained
respiratory ailments, which was how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was discovered in China late in 2019.
Testing for the presence of a single immune system molecule on nasal swabs can help detect hidden viruses not identified in standard tests, according to a study
published in The Lancet Microbe journal. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially dangerous new viruses can begin to spread in the population well
before the global public health surveillance system can detect them.
Mandelab, as a manufacturer that is specialized in producing Flocked Swabs & Foam Swabs since 2010, with the corporate mission & vision of everything is for
Human Development, we take on our responsibility for the COVID-19 specimen collection, preservation, and transportation solution for medical testing for the
last 3years.
Viruses are never extinct, so we can never stop. Testing should be exist chronically, but how come we can make a step ahead? "Finding a dangerous new virus
is like searching for a needle in a haystack," said Ellen Foxman, an associate professor at Yale University in the US. However, by the time an outbreak of a novel
virus occurs, it may be too late to contain its spread.
Maybe, simple nasal swab can provide early warning of stealthy viruses.
Nasal swabs are commonly taken from patients with suspected respiratory infections and are tested to detect specific signatures of 10 to 15 known viruses.
Most tests come back negative.
However, as Foxman's team observed previously, in a few cases, the swabs of those who tested negative for the "usual suspect" viruses still exhibited signs
that antiviral defenses were activated, indicating the presence of a virus.
The findings show that testing for an antiviral protein made by the body, even if the tests for known respiratory viruses are negative, can help pinpoint
which nasal swabs are more likely to contain unexpected viruses.
Mandelab has seen it and prepared for this situation, we specialized producing two kinds of flocked swabs for nasopharyngeal testing, it’s already
cooperated with over 50 countries and regions.
Mandelab totally believe that samples found to possess the biomarker can be analyzed using more complex genetic testing methods to identify unexpected
or emerging pathogens circulating in the patient population and jumpstart a response from the health care community.
To face the virus, we should be proactive. Mandelab will be always around.
