最近一項研究證實：一種新型快速檢測方法用于檢測暴露于西尼羅河病毒感染患者的時候，敏感性和特異性極高。

許多西尼羅河感染患者有非特異性的發熱、頭痛、乏力以及其它流感樣癥狀。根據美國疾病控制與預防中心（CDC，Atlanta, GA, USA）的研究結果，每150例西尼羅河病毒感染患者中有1例會發展成為嚴重感染，例如腦炎或者腦膜炎，有可能會導致癱瘓或者死亡。

這種新型檢測方法是由Spectral診斷集團(Toronto, Canada)研制開發的。迄今為止，這是唯一的西尼羅河病毒檢測方法，用于患者在拜訪醫生的時候，進行單個患者的依次檢測。光譜診斷同樣被研制開發用于膿毒敗血癥的快速檢測，以及用于測定心肌梗塞的指標。

Spectral公司執行總裁Paul Walker博士說：“這次成功的研究標志著Spectral公司西尼羅河病毒感染新型快速檢測方法研制開發工作獲得了成功。我們的計劃表仍然將這個研制開發作為常規戰略，將呈遞給加拿大和美國有關當局進行審批，允許醫生在2005年西尼羅河病毒夏季感染高峰的時候使用這項檢測方法。
Rapid Assay for West Nile Virus
 
A study has demonstrated that a novel rapid assay has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing West Nile virus (WNV) exposure in patients at risk.

Many patients with WNV infection have nonspecific symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, or other flu-like symptoms. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA), about one in 150 patients infected with WNV will develop a serious infection such as encephalitis or meningitis, which can result in paralysis or death.

The new test was developed by Spectral Diagnostics, Inc. (Toronto, Canada). To date, it is the only rapid point-of-care test available for WNV that is intended for individual patient-by-patient application at the time of a patient’s visit to a doctor. Spectral Diagnostics has also developed a rapid test for sepsis and a test for measuring markers of myocardial infarction.

“This successful study marks the conclusion of the development phase of Spectral’s novel rapid assay for detecting human infection with the West Nile Virus,” said Dr. Paul Walker, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Spectral. “We remain on schedule with our regulatory strategy to submit this test for consideration to Canadian and U.S. regulators to allow physicians to access this test in time for the 2005 WNV summer season.”