THE monkeypox (mpox) was first detected in Europe in May 2022 during an unexpected epidemicwhich quickly spread to several countries on the continent. This is the first major outbreak of mpox that spread to other non-endemic regions, i.e. outside the Africa the center and west, where the virus has been endemic for decades.
To diagnose Monkeypox virus infection, specific laboratory tests are used to detect the presence of the virus’s genetic material. But this preliminary step to knowing if a person is infected is about to change.
The World Health Organization (WHO) included the trial Alinity m MPXVdeveloped by Abbott Molecularas the first in vitro diagnostic (IVD) for the detection of mpox. A simple PCR test will allow this emerging pathology to be controlled much more quickly. This is an important step forward in improving global access to mpox testing.
Emergency approval of this test will increase diagnostic capacity in countries experiencing mpox outbreaks, where demand for rapid and accurate testing has increased significantly. He early diagnosis It is crucial to ensure adequate treatment, prompt care and control of the virus.
This advance will particularly benefit African countrieswhere WHO has identified limited capacity to testing and delays in confirming casesfactors that contribute to the continued spread of the virus. In 2024, more than 30,000 suspected cases in the region, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Nigeria the most affected countries. According to the WHO, only 37% of suspected cases in the DRC have been confirmed by tests this year.
The presence of monkeypox virus is confirmed by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as conventional or real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as outlined in the interim guidelines of the WHO on MPXV diagnostic testing. Material from lesions is the recommended sample to confirm infection in suspected cases.
The test Alinity m MPXV is a real-time PCR test that detects mpox virus (clade I/II) DNA in human skin lesion samples. It is designed for use by clinical laboratory personnel trained in PCR and in vitro diagnostic techniques. This test allows laboratory professionals to efficiently and accurately confirm suspected cases by detecting DNA in samples of pustular or vesicular rashes.
“The inclusion of this mpox diagnostic test in the emergency use listing process marks a key step in expanding access to testing in affected countries,” he said. note. Yukiko Nakatani deputy director general of WHO for access to medicines and health products.
To date, WHO has received three additional requests for evaluation under emergency use authorization and is in discussions with other manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic devices for mpox. This will ensure a greater variety of high-quality diagnostic optionshelping countries that do not have their own approval process to acquire the necessary tests through UN agencies and other partners.
