The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has fast-tracked a test for Ebola that could shorten the time for results to less than an hour.
M.L. Schultze of member station WKSU in Kent reports.
The tests will be done on a machine call FilmArray, which is used for blood tests for other diseases, but had been listed by the FDA as “for research only” when it comes to Ebola.
No hospital in Ohio can now do on-site Ebola tests. Samples must be sent now to the Ohio Department of Health.
Dr. Joseph Willis of University Hospitals says the FDA response is an important step.
“We think this is a significant advantage for public health and to the people of Ohio and I think that this represents some of the best things about government reacting to an important crisis properly.”
The state has been monitoring 163 people since Dallas nurse Amber Vinson traveled back to her native Ohio two weeks ago. When she returned to Texas, she discovered she had contracted Ebola from a patient there. She’s recovered, and none of the contacts here have displayed symptoms.
