Researchers from the University of Helsinki have developed a novel diagnostic method coined RFS (Rapid FRET serodiagnostics) for the rapid on-site measurement of antibodies from patient samples.
This technology could revolutionise the serodiagnosis of microbial, autoimmune and allergic disorders.
Now this team of researchers have applied the new concept for diagnostics of coeliac disease.
Screening of coeliac disease is recommended for patients with, for example, gastrointestinal coeliac patients. The screening test involves measurement of disease-specific antibodies from a blood sample.
The researchers gathered samples from 70 coeliacs at the Kuopio University Hospital, half from children and half from adults. Control samples from healthy donors were also collected. The samples were measured using the new assay and results compared with two currently used methods.
“The performance of the test was comparable to that of current methods. The prevailing method involves transporting the sample to a central laboratory and a multi-step procedure taking hours. With the new method, results can be achieved in less than half an hour by simply combining the sample and a reagent mix, waiting for a while and reading the result.”, Juuso Rusanen, MD, explains. He continues:
“We hope our rapid method could lower the threshold for screening of coeliac disease and thus help overcome the vast underdiagnosis of this relatively common condition.”
“Additionally, this is the first time the new method has been used for diagnostics of autoimmune disease. This is a promising result, and prompts the development of similar tests for diagnostics of other autoimmune disorders“, Rusanen points out.
Watafiti kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Helsinki wametengeneza njia mpya ya utambuzi inayoitwa REF (Rapid FRET Serodiagnostics) kwa kipimo cha haraka cha viini vya antibodi kutoka kwa sampuli za wagonjwa. Teknolojia hii inaweza kubadili utambuzi wa serodiagnosis ya magonjwa ya microbial, autoimmune na allergy. Sasa kikundi hiki cha watafiti kimetumia dhana hiyo mpya katika kuchunguza ugonjwa wa celiac. Uchunguzi wa ugonjwa wa celiac unapendekezwa kwa wagonjwa wenye, kwa mfano, wagonjwa wa celiac ya gastrointestinal. Mtihani wa uchunguzi unahusisha kupima kingamwili hususa za ugonjwa kutoka kwa sampuli ya damu. Watafiti hao walichukua sampuli kutoka kwa wagonjwa 70 wa ugonjwa wa celiac katika Hospitali ya Chuo Kikuu cha Kuopio, nusu kutoka kwa watoto na nusu kutoka kwa watu wazima. Sampuli za kudhibiti zilitolewa pia kutoka kwa wafadhili wenye afya. Sampuli zilipimwa kwa kutumia kipimo kipya na matokeo yalilinganishwa na mbinu mbili zinazotumiwa sasa. <unk>Utendaji wa mtihani ulikuwa sawa na ule wa mbinu za sasa. Njia inayotumiwa kwa kawaida inahusisha kusafirisha sampuli hiyo hadi kwenye maabara kuu na utaratibu wa hatua nyingi ambao huchukua saa nyingi. "Kwa njia hii mpya, matokeo yanaweza kupatikana katika muda wa chini ya nusu saa kwa kuchanganya sampuli na mchanganyiko wa reagent, kusubiri kwa muda na kusoma matokeo, ""anaeleza Daktari wa Matibabu Juuso Rusanen." "Amesema: ""Tunatumaini mbinu yetu ya haraka inaweza kupunguza kizingiti cha uchunguzi wa ugonjwa wa celiac na hivyo kusaidia kushinda upungufu mkubwa wa utambuzi wa hali hii ya kawaida.""" Hii ni matokeo ya kuahidi, na inachochea maendeleo ya vipimo sawa kwa ajili ya utambuzi wa magonjwa mengine ya autoimmune <unk>, Rusanen anasema.