For Immediate release:

FAO awards tender to Synbiotics for their rapid avian influenza diagnostic FLU DETECT™

December 2006, Lyon France: FLU DETECT™ Antigen capture test Strip was selected by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization – United Nations) for use in their multinational initiative to monitor and control the spread of infectious avian influenza “bird flu”. Flu Detect was chosen because of it’s proven performance and ease of use in field conditions, said Christophe Calleja , DVM, Marketing Manager for Synbiotics.

The FAO tender will be used in FAO subsidiaries all over Africa and Middle East where outbreaks have occurred and where surveillance is necessary to control further outbreaks. “Because Flu Detect has been designed to be a rapid in-field test, it has been adopted by several international agencies to be part of their First Response avian influenza detection and containment programs,” according to the developer, Dr. Chinta Lamichhane, Director of Avian Research Development at Synbiotics.


Flu Detect detects all subtypes of Influenza Type A, even with a low virus load, and provides results in just 15 minutes. The test kit requires no refrigeration and contains all materials necessary to be easily used in under-equipped conditions, which is why it appeals to so many international agencies, according to Synbiotics Technical Services.


This test which utilizes Rapid ImmunoMigration technology (R.I.M), provides results within 15 minutes. The sensitivity is high within 3 to 5 days post infection, and the delectability is 103 – 104 EID50/ml. This test can be performed on oropharyngeal, cloacal and tracheal swab samples.

Synbiotics Corporation develops, manufactures and markets veterinary diagnostics, instrumentation and related products for the companion animal, large animal and poultry markets worldwide.


For more information, visit www.synbiotics.fr and www.synbiotics.com