SNU creates new protein test to detect AIDS, hepatitis

Seoul National University has developed a new protein test to detect AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C with a simple blood sample.

The university announced Aug. 8 that its new testing method takes a quarter of the time of the existing test, known as ELISA, and that it costs 10 times less.

The research team fixed antigens of the three diseases onto a 2.5-by-7.5-centimeter glass slide. A drop of blood containing antibodies of the person being tested reacts with the antigens on the slide glass if the person has been infected. Results are available in less than an hour.

More than 500 different kinds of antigens can be fixed to the compact sized tester. With more research, SNU said that soon a person can be tested for 500 various diseases with a single slide glass. Even testing 500 people for the same disease can be done with the newly developed tester.