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CDC to ship experimental SARS tests to U.S. labs

Hospital Safety Connection, May 1, 2003

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week plans to ship to laboratories the first experimental tests to determine whether patients have the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, the Associated Press reports.

So far, there are 52 probable cases of the flu-like illness in the U.S. Health officials in more than 20 countries have identified about 5,300 SARS cases, with the global death toll currently at 355.

The tests check for viral genes and SARS antibodies, the immune-system cells that attack infection, but CDC officials consider them research tools. A negative test won't clear an individual who has SARS symptoms or was exposed to the virus; that person still must be isolated for the appropriate amount of time.

A recent Harvard School of Public Health survey found that 94% of respondents would agree to be isolated for two or three weeks in a hospital if they had SARS, and 92% would agree to quarantine for up to 10 days (the SARS incubation period) at home if they were exposed to someone suspected of having the illness.

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