An agreement between Alevo Technologies and the CDC seeks to leverage Alveo’s point-of-need molecular testing platform for the early detection of H5 and seasonal influenza viruses.

RT’s Three Key Takeaways

1. Focus on Differentiation: The test will be designed to rapidly detect and differentiate between avian influenza A(H5), influenza A, and influenza B, addressing a critical need for targeted diagnostics.
2. Enhanced Public Health Preparedness: By enabling point-of-need testing, the diagnostic aims to decentralize testing capabilities, reduce the burden on centralized labs, and improve response times during potential outbreaks.
3. CDC Collaboration for Early Detection: The initiative stems from a CDC call to address diagnostic gaps, particularly for avian influenza, to better prepare for potential human-to-human transmission scenarios.

Alveo Technologies has entered an agreement with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a rapid molecular diagnostic test capable of detecting and differentiating avian influenza A(H5) and seasonal influenza viruses at the point of need, aiming to enhance public health preparedness.

In June, the CDC issued an open call for solutions to meet the CDC’s diagnostic test development needs for avian influenza. The virus has been confirmed in birds, cattle, poultry, and people in the United States, heightening the urgency to support advanced preparedness in the event human-to-human transmission occurs.

According to the CDC’s open call to industry that requested innovative solutions from diagnostic technology companies, “currently, the only public health laboratories in the US equipped to test for this virus are CDC and state and jurisdictional public health laboratories with access to the CDC A(H5) assay. This poses a significant problem as these laboratories may not have the capacity to handle a large number of cases in the event of an H5 epidemic or pandemic. This could result in delays in diagnosing and treating individuals, leading to the further spread of the virus.”

Leveraging Molecular Detection Platform

Alveo has developed a portable molecular detection platform, IntelliSense, that utilizes isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology and provides fast and qualitative results at the point of need. As a multiplexed platform, the device can detect and differentiate between influenza A, B, and A/H5, from a single sample. Additionally, the platform can automatically deliver accurate, real-time results via a secure cloud-based portal for analysis and reporting.

As a result, Alveo’s solution can facilitate early detection and intervention, enhance public health surveillance, and improve the overall response to seasonal influenza and potential avian influenza A/H5 outbreaks. By decentralizing testing capabilities, Alveo will increase access to critical diagnostics, reduce the burden on centralized laboratories, and bolster pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

The agreement issued by CDC to develop avian influenza tests is part of Alveo’s strategy to develop diagnostics to manage global health, food security, and supply chain resiliency. Next month, Alveo will begin shipping a molecular test for all relevant subtypes of avian influenza (Type A, subtypes H5, H7, H9) in poultry. 

“It is gratifying to be selected and enter this agreement to accelerate the development of our point-of-need diagnostic solutions for H5,” says Shaun Holt, CEO at Alveo, in a release. “We are proud to work with CDC to be a part of a national preparedness effort by enabling timely detection and response where it matters most—at the front lines of care.”

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