Rapid tests to detect hemorrhagic fever are developed in Ufa

UFA, 21 February 2018. /Bashinform News Agency, Gulfiya Akulova/. Rapid tests are being developed in Ufa to detect hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Every year this disease is diagnosed in dozens of residents of Bashkortostan, our region is endemic.

To diagnose the disease at the very beginning is to save a person's life. The test developed by a smart guy from Bashkiria, a 6-year student of Bashkir State Medical University Valentin Kataev, allows diagnosing HFRS as soon as possible - in 5-15 minutes. Just a drop of patient's blood is enough to detect a fever with the help of the test. It is applied to a cassette with a sensitive membrane inside, which contains special proteins. They give a reaction that shows if a person has a HFRS or not.

"The initial manifestations of HFRS coincide with ARI or intestinal infections, only its complications are much more serious - acute renal failure, and in absence of treatment - a fatal outcome. Early diagnosis of this disease plays a key role in saving a patient. Our development enables us to diagnose an illness just at point-of-care of a patient", said Valentin Kataev.

"Analogues of our test are not registered either abroad or in Russia, and the available indirect analogues do not take into account specific features of the pathogens that are prevalent in the country", the young scientist specified.

Valentin Kataev received funds for production and purchase of necessary components for testing due to his victory in the contest "UMNIK" (A smart guy). A grant of 400 thousand rubles allowed him to collect prototypes and carry out a series of tests.