Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics, a global healthcare company specializing in vaccines and diagnostic tools for animal and public health, has recently released positive data from the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory on the effectiveness of their core diagnostic product, PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium (PS-MTM). The study, titled “Inactivation of Highly Transmissible Livestock and Avian Viruses, Including Influenza A and Newcastle Disease Viruses for Molecular Diagnosis,” demonstrates the ability of PS-MTM to inactivate highly consequential livestock and poultry viruses, making diagnostic testing safer and more efficient.
Zoonotic diseases, which pose a significant threat to both human and animal populations, have become a global concern. The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected humans as well as domestic and wild animal species, while the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has spread among wild birds, domestic poultry, and even to mammals and humans. Moreover, high-consequence exotic animal diseases like African swine fever (ASF) and HPAI are an increasing threat to the U.S. livestock and poultry industry, potentially disrupting the food supply and economy.
Dr. Rosemary Sifford, a prominent expert in the field, emphasized the importance of preventing the spread of ASF to protect the U.S. swine industry. If ASF were to become endemic, it could lead to devastating consequences, costing billions of dollars and taking more than a decade to recover from.
Accurate diagnostic tests play a crucial role in early detection and surveillance during disease outbreaks. However, sample collection and processing often pose challenges for high-throughput testing. PS-MTM simplifies the testing process by effectively inactivating dangerous pathogens and preserving nucleic acids without requiring a cold chain. This innovation significantly increases diagnostic testing capacity. The study confirmed that PS-MTM completely inactivates highly infectious animal diseases and maintains the integrity of nucleic acids necessary for diagnostic testing. These findings support the use of PS-MTM during specimen collection and encourage international collaborations between laboratories.
Jerry Torison, DVM, PhD, the Senior Vice President of Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics, acknowledged the valuable contributions of PS-MTM in increasing efficiency and reducing costs throughout the diagnostic workflow. The ability to safely collect and transport samples in a simplified manner revolutionizes lab safety and simplicity. It allows for the collection of multiple sample types in one instrument, overcoming the challenges posed by components within animal specimens that may interfere with molecular tests.
The study, authored by researchers at the USDA National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, IA, can be accessed in the BioArchive publication.
For more information about Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics and their PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium, please visit their official website.
FAQ:
Q: What is Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics?
A: Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics is a healthcare company that develops vaccines and diagnostic tools to address global public health concerns and prevent future pandemics. They focus on developing solutions that can impact epidemics on a global scale and across all socioeconomic levels.
Q: What is PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium?
A: PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium (PS-MTM) is a patented, FDA cleared, ambient temperature molecular diagnostic collection and transport tool. It effectively inactivates pathogens and preserves RNA and DNA, allowing for safe and efficient transportation of samples for laboratory-based molecular testing and characterization.
Q: What are zoonotic diseases?
A: Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. They pose a significant threat to both populations and can impact global food production.
Q: How does PS-MTM simplify the testing process?
A: PS-MTM simplifies the testing process by inactivating dangerous pathogens and stabilizing nucleic acids without the need for a cold chain. This eliminates the challenges associated with sample collection and processing, effectively increasing diagnostic testing capacity.
Q: How can PS-MTM contribute to diagnostic testing during disease outbreaks?
A: PS-MTM’s ability to inactivate highly infectious animal diseases and preserve nucleic acids enables early detection and comprehensive surveillance during disease outbreaks. It reduces barriers to diagnosis and facilitates reagent sharing between international laboratories, promoting collaboration and efficient testing.
