Molecular technology to diagnose diseases

Nadira Gunatilleke

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena instructed health authorities to use molecular technology to conduct medical diagnosis on filaria, hook worm diseases, leishmaniasis and leprosy, a ministry spokesman said.

He said other methods are used to diagnose the four diseases and Minister Sirisena ordered health officials to find out the possibility of using molecular technology to diagnose the four diseases.

"Many countries use molecular technology to diagnose diseases," the spokesman said.

Two British specialists Dr Jannet Njelasisni and Russel Dacombe from the Capacity Strengthening and Implementation Research Unit of the School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK visited Sri Lanka on a Health Ministry invitation to conduct research on using molecular technology.

Blood tests for filaria are carried out only at night.

Blood tests can be carried out during the day when using molecular technology, he said.

The Capacity Strengthening and Implementation Research Unit of the School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK will provide required reagents (used for molecular technology) to Sri Lanka for five years.

The British specialists are engaged in strengthening the Narahenpita Filaria Laboratory.