SCREEN TEST WEST NILE

West Nile Rapid Test – Product code: IWNGM-402/25

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a neurotropic pathogen for humans that is the causative agent of West Nile fever and encephalitis. West Nile virus was first isolated in 1937 in a woman from the West Nile district of Uganda. West Nile virus persists in nature in a transmission cycle between birds and mosquitoes. Humans, horses and other mammals can be infected. It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Western Asia. The neuroinvasive disease associated with West Nile virus affects all ages, although the elderly and immunocompromised individuals are particularly at risk. West Nile virus infection is asymptomatic in about 80% of infected people or can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease. Approximately 20% of people infected with West Nile virus will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and body aches, nausea, vomiting, occasionally with a rash (on the trunk of the body) and swelling of the lymph glands.

Screen Test West Nile is a qualitative membrane immunoassay for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against West Nile virus in whole blood, serum or plasma samples. The test consists of two components, an IgG component and an IgM component. In the IgG component, anti-human IgG is coated in the IgG test line region. During the test, the sample reacts with the Western Nile virus antigen-coated particles in the test cassette. The mixture then migrates upwards on the membrane by capillary action and reacts with the anti-human IgG in the IgG test line region if the sample contains IgG antibodies against the Western Nile virus. As a result, a coloured line appears in the IgG test line region. Similarly, anti-human IgM is coated in the IgM test line region, and if the sample contains IgM antibodies against West Nile virus, the conjugate-species complex reacts with the anti-human IgM. Consequently, a coloured line appears in the IgM test line region. Therefore, if the sample contains IgG antibodies to West Nile virus, a coloured line will appear in the IgG test line region. If the sample contains IgM antibodies to West Nile virus, a coloured line will appear in the IgM test line region. If the sample does not contain antibodies to West Nile virus, no coloured line will appear in any of the test line regions, indicating a negative result. As a procedural control, a coloured line always appears in the control line region, indicating that the correct volume of sample has been added and that membrane wicking has occurred.