Pharmabuzz

The current standard laboratory test for COVID-19 diagnosis is RT-PCR which identifies the viral genomic RNA has several disadvantages being time-consuming, expensive and high requirements of laboratory. A meta-analysis study by Zhang Z.L et al (2020) and Lisboa Bastos M et al (2020) reveals the diagnostic efficacy of RT-PCR test remains unclear. This leads to search of urgently identifying tests with better diagnostic accuracy.  Gold Immunochromatography assay (GICA) might be used as preferred method for obtaining accuracy and efficacy. GICA test has following advantages that it can be widely used (blood, serum and plasma can be detected); fast detection (10-15 minutes for whole process); simple operation (no professional technical personnel required for the equipment); low cost and easy to use. Through the study conducted by Shen B et al (2020); found that IgM/IgG test demonstrated high sensitivity 71.1% and specificity 96.2% in 150 suspect COVID-19 cases taking RT-PC...

Zika virus: i s a member of the  Flaviviridae  virus  family  and the  Flavivirus   genus . Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites.   The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are: Fever  Rash Joint pain Conjunctivitis (red eyes) The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. A mother already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth, but this is rare. This leads to microcephaly. What is microcephaly? Microcephaly is condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size. Microcephaly can be an isolated condition, meaning that it can occur with no other major birt...