Biotechnology - Atlanta, Georgia, United States
The REDS (Rapid Ebola Detection Strips) kit is intended to be portable and user-friendly, allowing for Ebola Virus Detection (EVD) detection screening in a village setting. Additionally, REDS can test for EVD before symptoms occur since it captures the antigen in a person's blood or saliva. Furthermore, if used with saliva, the REDS strip test can avoid the use of needles and the risks of contamination that go along with needle pricks. By adding Ebola glycoprotein (GP) to protein-adhesive membranes, blocking off nonspecific protein binding, and adding anti-Ebola specific antibodies followed by antibodies complementary to the first set of antibodies (conjugated with an enzyme called Horseradish Peroxidase that yields a visible color change when exposed to its substrate), REDS detects the presence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) without the need of a machine, such as PCR, and can allow for a relatively rapid answer.