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The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was unprecedented in scale and location. Limited access to both diagnostic and supportive pathology assays in both resource-rich and resource-limited settings had a detrimental effect on the identification and isolation of cases as well as individual patient management. Limited access to such assays in resource-rich settings resulted in delays in differentiating EVD from other illnesses in returning travellers, in turn utilising valuable resources until a diagnosis could be made. This had a much greater impact in West Africa, where it contributed to the initial failure to contain the outbreak. This review explores diagnostic assays of use in EVD in both resource-rich and resource-limited settings, including their respective limitations, and some novel assays and approaches that may be of use in future outbreaks.

Original publication

DOI

10.1371/journal.pntd.0004948

Type

Journal

PLoS neglected tropical diseases

Publication Date

27/10/2016

Volume

10

Addresses

Public Health Laboratory Manchester, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Keywords

Humans, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola, Travel, Africa, Western, Ebolavirus