Description

Cleaver Scientific reports that its horizontal electrophoresis equipment is being used on the frontline of the UK fight against Ebola.

The Cleaver Scientific MultiSUB electrophoresis system features in a recent ITV report (www.itv.com/news/update/2014-10-10/government-defends-ebola-screening-plans/) on UK Government plans to step up Ebola screening of passengers arriving from West Africa at Heathrow and Gatwick airports as well as major rail terminus.

At the Porton Down research centre in Wiltshire, UK - scientists are working on detecting and minimising the risk of the Ebola virus appearing in the UK. Currently researchers are analysing 10-15 blood samples / week taken from National Health Service (NHS) patients, all to date have proved negative for Ebola.

Mr Adie Cleaver, Managing Director of Cleaver Scientific commented "Ebola haemorrhagic fevers are difficult to diagnose because early signs and symptoms resemble those of other diseases, such as typhoid and malaria. If doctors suspect you have an Ebola infection, they can use Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and ELISA or PCR blood tests to quickly identify the virus". He added "Ebola testing has to be carried out by specialists. Samples from patients are an extreme biohazard risk and laboratory testing is conducted under maximum biological containment conditions in centres such as Porton Down with full facilities for infection control".

A long-established technique, horizontal gel electrophoresis offers many advantages for nucleic acid separation, and remains today one of the mainstays of molecular biology. The multiSUB™ horizontal gel electrophoresis system from Cleaver Scientific has been designed by scientists for scientists. With its advanced features, each unit provides an easy to use, versatile and flexible system that can evolve and adapt with the changing needs of today’s laboratory researcher.