China OKs H7N9 test reagents for market entry

BEIJING - Two reagents used to conduct clinical tests for human infections of the H7N9 avian flu have been given approval to enter the Chinese market, according to the country's drug watchdog.

The two products, respectively developed by Shanghai ZJ Bio-Tech Co Ltd and DAAN Gene Co Ltd of Sun Yat-sen University, were approved Tuesday by the China Food and Drug Administration, according to a Wednesday circular issued by the administration.

Both products use fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a biochemical technology that can locate bits of genetic material unique to the virus and amplify them for easy identification with the help of fluorescent markers.

According to the circular, the products can detect the presence of H7N9 in samples of respiratory secretions.

The latest official figures show that the Chinese mainland had reported 130 confirmed H7N9 cases, of which 36 ended in death, as of May 20. Seventy-two patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.