|
VETCARE Ô |
RAPID
|
AQUAHEALTH Ô |
AQUARAPID
RAPID DIAGNOSTIC KIT IN VITRO
|
Types:
|
DESCRIPTION
The Aquarapid
in vitro test kits are based on the ELISA technique (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). They provide in a self-contained
package all materials and reagents needed to sample and quickly test a large
amount of dead, moribund, or apparently healthy, but suspect carrier, fish in
order to verify or preclude the infection by particular important pathogens.
The Aquarapids
are destined for rapid application either on the farms or in veterinary
laboratories. They produce definitive diagnostic results within 2 to 3 hours
for 40 tests/samples, without necessitating additional equipment or materials
other than those contained in the kit. A few minutes demonstration suffices to
train farm staff to apply the kit. Each kit
provides for 40 tests.
|
|
APPLICATION Samples may comprise either whole
fish larvae, or if the fish are large enough, whole internal organs or parts
of these (spleen, liver, kidney, brain). The testing process is rapid and
follows a specific procedure set out in an easy to follow instructions sheet. The results become evident by a
colour change on the test surfaces (test spoons). If positive, the intensity
of colour change (red) indicates the degree of infection by the particular
pathogen in question. Positive and negative
controls help to distinguish the results.
|
With the Aquarapids
latent carrier fish are detected and the relative intensity of infection is
revealed even when a particular disease is no more prevalent on a farm. In
addition, the kit may be used to verify the diagnosis of moribund fish. Since a
large number of samples may be simultaneously tested quickly, the use of the Aquarapids achieves:
- Verification
of a presumptive diagnosis based upon the clinical symptoms and necropsy
findings.
- Rapid
and statistically significant search for latent, asymptomatic carrier fish.
- Rapid
and statistically significant exclusion of potential latent infection
prior to fish vaccination.
- Routine
disease screening of fry and fish eggs.
- Verification
of the disease free status of fry from hatcheries as regards particular
economically important pathogens (fry quality).
- Prevention
from introducing pathogens transmitted either vertically via contaminated
fertilised eggs, or via infected carrier fry.
Application example for marine fish
hatcheries: Screening
of young sea bream 0.1g to 0.5g for the exclusion of latent carriers of the
bacterium Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Pasteurella piscicida), which is responsible for the devastating
disease, pasteurellosis.
The samples may consist of either
whole small fish, or whole organs (e.g. spleens) according to fish size. Pooling
of samples may be done (e.g. including several spleens per test) in order to
facilitate checking a large number of individuals. Under these circumstances, the Aquarapid kit achieves:
- Verification
of the disease status of small fish. Very young fish, even when sick, do
not show clear symptoms or lesions.
- Testing
a statistically significant number of individuals in a fish batch
(screening >100 fish). This is impractical with ordinary
techniques (plating on substrates).
- Rapid
results in about 2-3 hours instead of 2-3 days with ordinary microbiology
(plating, subculturing, biochemical
characterisation). Hence, measures may be instigated quickly.
- Cost effective application.
PRECAUTIONS
- All
reagents should be brought to room temperature: 20o - 25oC
before use.
- Do
not perform the test under direct sunlight.
- Reading
of results should be done under a common desk lamp (avoid sunlight or neon
light).
STORAGE
The Aquarapid
kits must be stored between +2o and +7o C in a common
refrigerator. Do not freeze. They last for 12 months post manufacturing
date. May be stored and used several times after first opened, according to
requirements.
top
|
|
|
Links with: |
Copyright (c) Dr Panos Varvarigos