Quick, Inexpensive Leptospirosis Test Strip Kit to Help Lower Death and Disability Risk

17 August 2021

The Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University has brought out a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use leptospirosis test strip kit to help lower the risk of disability from internal organ failure and death, with the hopes of distributing them to community hospitals across the country.

Leptospirosis is a danger that comes with the rainy season. Initial symptoms are not specific. It can be similar to other infectious diseases, such as dengue fever and influenza, causing infected people to be misdiagnosed. Normally, diagnosis is done with expensive equipment and generally takes one or two weeks to know the result. As a consequence, leptospirosis is not treated properly or timely and may cause severe symptoms, and risk of internal organ failure and death.

A research team led by Assoc. Prof. Kanittha Pattarakul, M.D., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University has developed an innovative lateral flow strip test for leptospirosis screening that is quick and easy to use so that patients can be diagnosed and treated properly to avoid life-threatening dangers. …