%0 Journal Article
%T Leapfrog diagnostics: Demonstration of a broad spectrum pathogen identification platform in a resource-limited setting
%A Tomasz A Leski
%A Rashid Ansumana
%A Anthony P Malanoski
%A David H Jimmy
%A Umaru Bangura
%A Brian R Barrows
%A Morie Alpha
%A Bashiru M Koroma
%A Nina C Long
%A Abu J Sundufu
%A Alfred S Bockarie
%A Baochuan Lin
%A David A Stenger
%J Health Research Policy and Systems
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1478-4505-10-22
%X A laboratory for molecular diagnostics of infectious agents was established in Bo, Sierra Leone with a hybrid solar/diesel/battery system to ensure stable power supply and a satellite modem to enable efficient communication. An array of room temperature stabilization and refrigeration technologies for reliable transport and storage of reagents and biological samples were also tested to ensure sustainable laboratory supplies for diagnostic assays.The laboratory demonstrated its operational proficiency by conducting an investigation of a suspected avian influenza outbreak at a commercial poultry farm at Bo using broad range resequencing microarrays and real time RT-PCR. The results of the investigation excluded influenza viruses as a possible cause of the outbreak and indicated a link between the outbreak and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae.This study demonstrated that by application of a carefully selected set of technologies and sufficient personnel training, it is feasible to deploy and effectively use a broad-range infectious pathogen detection technology in a severely resource-limited setting.
%U http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/10/1/22/abstract