Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/13
By: Yu Hsiao-han and Lee Hsin-Yin 

Taipei, April 13 (CNA) A Taiwanese biotechnology company said Saturday that a rapid test kit it has developed for African swine fever (ASF) has been recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), making it the first such test provider in Asia.

According to Excelsior Bio-System (EBS), Inc., its kit can diagnose in 10 minutes if a live hog has contracted ASF, even if the animal is still in the incubation period, through detecting the presence of antibodies against the ASF virus protein p30.

The testing method can ascertain a case of ASF as early as 14 days after a hog is infected, said company executive Chang Chuan-hsing (張權星), adding that this is better than the world’s other existing rapid test kit, which was developed in Spain.

The Spanish diagnostic system targets antibodies against the ASF virus protein p72, which is generated later in the development of ASF, Chang explained.    [FULL  STORY]