Kwik-Dtect
RAPID DIAGNOSTIC KITS FOR IN
VITRO USE
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Types:
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DESCRIPTION
The Kwik-Dtect rapid in vitro
diagnostic tests are based on the ELISA technique (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). They provide in a self-contained
package (kit) all materials and reagents needed to sample and quickly test a
large number of dead, moribund, or apparently healthy but suspect carrier salmonid fish (trout, salmon). They are used to verify or
preclude infection by specific pathogens.
The type Kwik-Dtect
-Rs is specific for the detection of the Gram
positive bacterium, Renibacterium salmoninarum, which is responsible for Bacterial Kidney
Disease (BKD), while the type -IPNV detects the Birna-virus,
responsible for Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN).
BKD disease has not been identified
yet in Greek fresh water farms. Experience from North America and Northern
Europe shows that it is extremely difficult to eradicate and causes dramatic
economic losses (the disease necessitates quarantine measures).
IPN has been diagnosed in Greece and is among the most
important threats to the Greek trout farming industry today.
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Kwik-Dtect are
"in vitro" tests since a series of reagents are applied on
tissue samples and not on live specimen. They can be deployed either on the
farms or in veterinary laboratories. Each kit provides for 50 tests.
Results are produced within 2 to 3 hours for 50 tests/samples. Additional
equipment or materials, other than those contained in the kit, are not
required for testing. Clear step-by-step user instructions are contained in the
package. A short demonstration suffices to train farm staff to apply the kit. |
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APPLICATION
Samples usually consist of kidney
tissue. Tissues are sampled with the included sterile disposable instruments.
Pooling of samples is possible by including tissues from several fish in each
test. Thus, many individual fish may be tested exceeding in number the 50 tests
provided in a single kit.
The testing process is rapid and
follows a specific procedure explained in an easy to follow instructions sheet.
The positive results become evident in test tubes by a colour change (green).
The intensity of colour change indicates the degree of infection by the
pathogen. Strong positive, weakly positive and negative controls are provided
to help the operator distinguish the results.
Apart from verifying the clinical
diagnosis, or detecting the carrier status of the fish in a population by means
of large-scale sampling (screening), the kits are useful for rapid screening of
imported fish and fertilised ova in order to preclude the importation of
disease.
With ordinary microbiology (plating,
sub-culturing, biochemical characterisation) or virology (virus culture on live
tissue) the verification of diagnosis is slow and costly and hence impractical
on a large scale. However, with rapid diagnostics a large number of samples
(>100) may be simultaneously tested quickly. In
particular, the use of Kwik-Dtect achieves:
- Verification of a presumptive diagnosis
based upon symptoms and necropsy.
- Rapid
and statistically significant search of latent, asymptomatic carrier fish.
- Carrier
status assessment prior to handling or vaccination.
- Routine
disease screening of fry and fertilised eggs.
- Verification
of the disease free status of fry as regards specific pathogens (quality
advantage for hatcheries).
- Prevention
from introducing specific pathogens to clean sites or regions via infected
fish or ova transportation.
- Rapid
results in about 2-3 hours. (The laboratory isolation of Renibacterium salmoninarum
requires more than 7 days on selective media, while IPNV isolation on cell
cultures may require from 3 up to 20 days for a "cyto-pathic
effect" to be observed.)
- Cost effectiveness.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- All
reagents should be brought to room temperature: 20o to25oC before use.
- The
test procedure should not be executed under direct sun-light.
STORAGE
The Kwik-Dtect
kits should be kept cool between +2o and +7o C in a
common refrigerator. Do not freeze. Storage life is 12 months post
manufacture. They may be used several times after first opening the sealed
package, according to requirements.
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Varvarigos