Japanese researchers develop new rapid test for ASF

Researchers in Japan have improved the reliability of oral fluid-based tests for ASF with a new method for concentrating samples.

A new method for concentrating oral fluid samples could lead to the development of new rapid test kits for African swine fever (ASF), according to a study by Japan’s Kyoto University.

Researchers found that a technique typically used to concentrate norovirus from oysters increased the detection of ASF virus in oral fluid samples, improving the researchers’ ability to detect the virus 100-fold over a conventional method used as a reference in the study.

Tests for the ASF virus typically require the collection of blood samples, because the virus is present in larger concentrations in the blood than in other bodily fluids. The new method described in Japan uses 10ml of fluid per test to ensure better detection of the virus and avoid false negatives.

Most comparable tests use 50-200 microliters of oral fluids, but 10ml is still small enough that it can be easily obtained. Researchers collected the samples needed for the study by allowing infected pigs in Vietnam to chew ropes placed in their pens, said Wataru Yamazaki, Kyoto University Professor.