Molecular detection and point-of-care testing in Ebola virus disease and other threats: a new global public health framework to stop outbreaks

Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2015;15(10):1245-59. doi: 10.1586/14737159.2015.1079776. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Abstract

Ultrahigh sensitivity and specificity assays that detect Ebola virus disease or other highly contagious and deadly diseases quickly and successfully upstream in Spatial Care Paths™ can stop outbreaks from escalating into devastating epidemics ravaging communities locally and countries globally. Even had the WHO and CDC responded more quickly and not misjudged the dissemination of Ebola in West Africa and other world regions, mobile rapid diagnostics were, and still are, not readily available for immediate and definitive diagnosis, a stunning strategic flaw that needs correcting worldwide. This article strategizes point-of-care testing for diagnosis, triage, monitoring, recovery and stopping outbreaks in the USA and other countries; reviews Ebola molecular diagnostics, summarizes USA FDA emergency use authorizations and documents why they should not be stop-gaps; and reduces community risk from internal and external infectious disease threats by enabling public health at points of need.

Keywords: Ebola; Ebola diagnostic center; emergency use authorization; facilitated-access self-testing; point-of-care; public health resilience; ultrahigh sensitivity; ultrahigh specificity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Civil Defense
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / diagnosis*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / epidemiology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • International Cooperation
  • Knowledge Bases
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Point-of-Care Systems*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity