China okays H7N9 test "reagents" for market entry

Two "reagents" used to conduct clinical tests for human infections of the H7N9 avian flu have been given approval to enter the Chinese market.
The two products, developed locally, were approved yesterday, the China Food and Drug Administration said.
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, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.
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.

So far 36 people have died, while 72 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.