Tony Kolbe, influenza surveillance specialist of the Public Health Surveillance and Communicable Disease Control under the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, said in yesterday’s press briefing that the testing equipment, called Immunofluorescence Microscopy or IFM, is ready to be used.
“The equipment can be used to test specimen for the presence of influenza virus from people with influenza-like illnesses,” Kolbe said.
Iimmunofluorescence microscopy is a sensitive serological test which harnesses both the power of antibodies to bind to targets along with the use of the flourescence microscope to visualise the structures to which they bind.
But Kolbe said the testing equipment cannot determine or confirm the presence of H1N1 virus.
He said they still have to send samples to the testing centers in Hawaii or the mainland U.S.
Kolbe said with about 90 percent of influenza cases can be considered as pandemic, the testing equipment is important to keep track and know what influenza is affecting the community.
He added that SPC has programs in areas of fishery, agriculture and health all over the Pacific Region.
He said the Influenza Surveillance Project aims to improve the surveillance of influenza in the Pacific islands.
Kolbe said Saipan is the 15th area in the Pacific region to have the testing equipment installed.
Kolbe arrived on Saipan with a laboratory technician on Nov. 2 to install the machine and train hospital staff on its functions.
