A New Weapon Against Mpox: The First Approved Test

A world where detecting mpox is as simple as swabbing a lesion. That's exactly what the World Health Organization (WHO) has made possible with its approval of Abbott Molecular's Alinity m MPXV assay. This test, known as an in vitro diagnostic test, is now available for emergency use, expanding global testing capacity. But why is this such a big deal? Well, in Africa, the lack of testing capacity and delays in confirming cases have been fueling the mpox spread. So, this approval is a game-changer. It means countries dealing with mpox outbreaks will now have better tools to identify and contain the virus. The Alinity m MPXV assay works by detecting the mpox virus' DNA in swabs taken from skin lesions. It uses a technique called real-time PCR, which is like a super-fast and accurate way of finding specific genetic material. So far, over 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been reported across Africa in 2024 alone. The highest numbers were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria. This new test can help these countries get a better handle on the situation by quickly confirming suspected cases. The WHO uses something called Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for approving essential health products during emergencies. This process ensures that the products are safe, effective, and of high quality. It's like a quick pass to help countries make informed decisions about what they need in an emergency.