Technology.am (May 14, 2009) — Quest Diagnostics Inc. has launched a lab testing kit to detect H1N1 virus that causes swine flu.

This first commercially available real-time PCR diagnostic test to identify U.S. patients infected with the new H1N1 flu virus.

Quest said, the tests can be ordered directly from Focus Diagnostics or through the Quest Diagnostics national laboratory network and it is expected to cost $300.

Quest’s Focus Diagnostics infectious disease reference laboratory, in Cypress, California validated the test using specimens confirmed as positive for the new virus by public health authorities.

The company said there is no need of approval for the test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Quest said, the swine flu virus, is a subtype of Influenza virus Type A. The Focus Diagnostics test detects the presence of Influenza A virus RNA and specifically identifies the presence of the novel H1N1 virus.

The test can detect the presenHHce of a virus’ RNA from a patient’s nasal or nasopharyngeal specimen.

“The public health laboratories don’t have the capacity to do all the testing that is being requested. Now, clinicians and hospitals have another way to potentially identify this novel virus from patients by sending tests to us,” said Dr. Jay Lieberman, medical director of Focus Diagnostics.

“We are very confident that the test will accurately identify this novel H1N1 strain,” Lieberman told Reuters.

The Focus Diagnosics laboratory is expected to report back on the test results within 24 hours of receiving a specimen.

Quest said it also would submit positive specimens and test results to the appropriate public health authorities, as required by local public health guidelines.