Summary
New technology developed by HHMI researchers makes it
possible to test for current and past infections with any known human virus by
analyzing a single drop of blood.
Highlights
* With VirScan, scientists can run a single test to
determine which viruses have infected an individual.
* VirScan works by screening the blood for antibodies
against any of more than 200 species of viruses known to infect humans.
* The comprehensive analysis can be performed for about $25
per blood sample.
* The test is currently used as a research tool and is not
commercially available.
(June 5, 2015) New
technology developed by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers
makes it possible to test for current and past infections with any known human
virus by analyzing a single drop of a person's blood. The method, called
VirScan, is an efficient alternative to existing diagnostics that test for
specific viruses one at a time.