Australian Rural & Regional News asked a couple of further questions of ZiP Diagnostics, answered below.
ZiP Diagnostics, Media Release, 26 June 2024
To help protect Australia’s livestock industry from the threat of infectious diseases, a revolutionary diagnostic test designed to swiftly detect infections in livestock has been tested by the CSIRO.
The test is being developed by ZiP Diagnostics, a pioneering biotech company, and it is designed to provide early detection for diseases such as foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease.
“Our innovative testing system not only assists developing countries in their fight against these diseases but also plays a vital role in protecting Australia’s livestock industry,” says Dr Jack Richards, Scientific Director of ZiP Diagnostics.
A recent preliminary study by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, at its Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness found that ZiP Diagnostics’ Point-of-Care (POC) test showed promising results for detecting lumpy skin disease virus in cattle.
The CSIRO report found the test’s clinical performance was comparable to a gold-standard qPCR test.
Dr Richards says this marks a significant milestone in disease detection and prevention, offering a practical solution for early disease detection on farms and immediate containment.
A qPCR test, or quantitative polymerase chain reaction test, is a molecular technique used to amplify and quantify specific DNA sequences, which can help detect diseases. ZiP Diagnostics’ technology is also a DNA amplification technique, but has the advantage of providing rapid results, typically within 15 minutes, and being deployable onto farms and remote areas of Australia.
“The availability of this diagnostic test provides a critical tool in the fight against infectious diseases in livestock. Early detection is key to preventing outbreaks and minimising the impact on both animal welfare and agricultural economies,” Dr Richards says.
The current process of transporting samples from rural areas to centralised laboratories for testing poses critical delays of up to several days. This amplifies the urgency for high-quality, field-deployable Point-of-Care (POC) testing systems capable of rapid deployment and identification of suspected EAD cases, Dr Richards says.
Australia’s livestock industry is essential to Australia’s economy, and is worth more than $75 billion annually. The sector supports more than 433,000 jobs while contributing to an annual export value exceeding $17 billion.
However, the industry’s prosperity hinges heavily on Australia’s disease-free export status, which faces significant threats from potential incursions of Emergency Animal Diseases (EADs) such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, and African Swine Fever.
“Recent global outbreaks of EADs underscore the constant menace of importation or incursion, heightening the need for swift and efficient detection methods,” Dr Richards says.
ZiP Diagnostics is advancing plans for the introduction of field trials in the Asia Pacific region and further evaluation of their testing system at international facilities.
Dr Richards says providing POC testing will benefit Australia’s agricultural sector in four key ways:
- Rapid detection: Point-of-Care (POC) testing enables quick and on-site detection of diseases in livestock, allowing for immediate action to contain outbreaks.
- Timely response: With POC testing, suspected cases can be identified swiftly, reducing the time between sample collection and diagnosis and facilitating prompt responses to potential health threats.
- Enhanced surveillance: POC testing enhances disease surveillance capabilities in the livestock industry, enabling early detection of emerging diseases and preventing their spread within and across farms.
- Economic impact: Implementing POC testing can help safeguard Australia’s livestock industry, protecting its economic value of over $75 billion annually and supporting the livelihoods of over 433,000 workers.
“As we move forward with field trials and international evaluations, our goal remains clear: to contribute to global health security and ensure the well-being of livestock populations worldwide,” Dr Richards says.
Australian Rural & Regional News asked ZiP Diagnostics when the test might be available and how much it might cost?
ZiP Diagnostics: The test is expected to be available later this year [2024] for authorised users, subject to government approvals. The testing instrument is expected to cost around $8,000, with each individual test costing $35 each.