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ASD's LabSpec® Analyzer Helps in the Fight Against Zika and DengueASD Inc., a PANalytical company, and developer of high-performance near-infrared (NIR) analytical instrumentation and material analysis solutions, has learned that their LabSpec NIR analyzer is being used in the fight against Zika and Dengue. Zika and Dengue are viral diseases that infect well over 400 million people each year. In humans, infection by the Dengue virus results in fevers, headaches, rashes and severe joint and muscle pains. Infection by the Zika virus typically causes a mild illness known as Zika fever. More significantly, prenatal Zika infection has been associated with microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies. Numerous studies have shown that infecting Zika- and Dengue-carrying mosquitoes with a targeted strain of the Wolbachia bacterium greatly reduces the likelihood that the mosquitoes carry the Zika or Dengue virus. The release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes has been shown to rapidly spread and can infect over 80 percent of the local mosquito population. In order to judge the effectiveness of a release program, wild mosquitoes must be trapped and screened for the presence of the Wolbachia bacterium. Dr. Maggy Sikulu-Lord, from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues have developed a NIR-based method for rapidly screening Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes. Using ASD's field portable LabSpec NIR analyzer, the researchers have been able to distinguish between infected and uninfected mosquitoes with 85-95 percent accuracy, enabling them to rapidly determine the effectiveness of the program. Dr. Sikulu-Lord states: "A study nominated for an award by Combating Zika and Future threats, funded by USAID, and led by Dr Sikulu from the University of Queensland, will investigate the ability of the NIR as a rapid technique to detect Zika and Dengue infections in the principal mosquito vector Ae. aegypti in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We will use a Labspec 5000 NIR instrument from ASD PANalytical to develop models that can be used to rapidly detect Zika and Dengue transmission hotspots Brazil. This information will enable quick identification of high-risk areas, prioritize efforts and resources and measure the impacts of vector contrl interventions." Brent Olsen, VP & GM of ASD said, "A key part of ASD's and PANalytical's mission and vision is to create a better world by helping people to analyze materials that matter to them and the environment; as such, our organization is pleased that our solutions have the ability to help make a difference in the fight against Zika and Dengue." For more information see: http://discover.asdi.com/asds-labspec-helps-in-the-fight-against-zika-and-dengue. For more information about ASD instruments, please visit www.asdi.com. About ASD Inc., a PANalytical company ASD Inc., a PANalytical company is the global leader in high-performance analytical instrumentation solutions, solving some of the most challenging real-world materials measurement problems. ASD spectrometers - unparalleled in providing laboratory-grade results in the field or on-site - are the instruments of choice for image classification analysis, defense & intel, materials analysis, geology/mining, agriculture and environmental applications, where results drive paradigm-changing insights, efficiency and profit. Visit www.asdi.com for more information about ASD Inc. About PANalytical PANalytical's mission is to enable people to get valuable insight into their materials and processes. Our customers can be found in virtually every industry segment, from building materials to pharmaceuticals and from metals and mining to nanomaterials. The combination of our software and instrumentation, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as well as pulsed fast thermal neutron activation (PFTNA), provides our customers with highly reliable and robust elemental and structural information on their materials and is applied in scientific research and industrial process and quality control. PANalytical employs over 1,000 people worldwide. The company's headquarters are in Almelo, the Netherlands. Fully equipped application laboratories are established in Japan, China, the US, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Supply and competence centers are located on two sites in the Netherlands: Almelo (X-ray instruments) and Eindhoven (X-ray tubes), in Nottingham, UK (XRF applications and standards), in Quebec, Canada (fusion sample preparation) and in Boulder CO, US (near-infrared instruments). A dedicated research activity is located on the campus of the University of Sussex in Brighton (UK). PANalytical is active in all but a few countries of the world with a worldwide sales and service network that ensures unrivalled levels of customer support. The company is certified in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Visit www.panalytical.com for more information about our activities. PANalytical is part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company.
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