news
coverage 24 and 26 Jun 2006
2.The main aim of this new kit is to find out who really need
treatments.
Tokyo incident showed that hospital full of people whi THINK
thay are hurted by gas.
In fact,many were not hurted.
However, with DSO National Laboratories' Scentmate, detection
time can be cut down considerably. This novel field diagnostic kit
provides quick and reliable screening of individuals suspected of
exposure to nerve agents, so that medical attention and resources
can be more efficiently deployed for those in need.
A pin-prick amount of blood sample is taken from the victims,
cleaned up and treated before being analysed on microplates. All it
takes is about half an hour to screen 96 people, compared to the 16
hours required in a laboratory.
Dr Loke Weng Keong, Head Medical Countermeasures - Chemical
Laboratory, said: "In a laboratory, the time taken for analysis
depends on the blood sample. It might even take up to a day."
Current field validation test devices require prior baseline
measurements to confirm nerve gas exposure. "But it is impossible
to get a baseline measurement for an entire nation in the event of
a terrorist attack," added Dr Leong.
Field trials with SAF units will be conducted this year and
feedback will be collected.
3.How to carry out trial?Volunteer any one?
