This is an automatically translated article.
NAT test is an advanced testing technology, helping to identify the cause of disease quickly and accurately. This is a huge leap forward in the success of gene identification and sequencing techniques.
1. What is a NAT test?
The molecular biological NAT test (Nucleic acid test) is one of the advanced testing techniques that is being widely used in medicine today. This term is used to refer to tests that detect specific species or subspecies of an organism at the molecular level such as nucleic acid fragments, complete genes or even microbial genomes.
This technique was born at the end of the twentieth century based on the principle of amplification reaction to multiply the genetic material derived from pathogenic viruses and increase the ability to detect when the amount of this virus is too small in the blood. . The NAT test is a leap forward from the success of gene identification and sequencing techniques.
This technique aims to help determine the cause of the disease faster and more accurately to serve the treatment process more effectively. The application of NAT has effectively prevented the risk of virus transmission due to infected blood donors in the window period.
Xét nghiệm NAT giảm nguy cơ lây truyền virus do người hiến máu
2. NAT test for early detection of hepatitis B – C
At most current testing laboratories, the detection of blood-borne viruses is done by indirect serological tests, through the presence of the virus or the body's antibody response to the virus. .
However, in newly infected patients, the amount of virus is too small, the body has not yet created antibodies to fight the virus, serological testing techniques cannot detect it. This period is called the window period. Therefore, the risk of the recipient being infected with one of the blood-borne diseases remains.
Therefore, health workers always consider the "window period" as an obsession How to shorten the "window period", how to detect infectious diseases at the earliest Blood transfusion is always a big question, a constant concern every day.
On December 19, 2014, for the first time at the National Institute of Hematology - Blood Transfusion and also in Vietnam, the molecular biology test (Nucleic acid test - NAT) was used to screen for diseases. Dangers of blood transmission include hepatitis B , C and HIV . The NAT technique is a breakthrough, opening a new era of blood transfusion safety screening tests.
Xét nghiệm sinh học phân tử có thể sàng lọc viêm gan B
3. Why does the NAT test detect hepatitis B early?
Currently, this method is widely applied in the diagnosis of diseases such as HIV, HBV, HCV... Why does the NAT test detect hepatitis B early? This technique allows shortening the window period from 90 days to 30 to 40 days for hepatitis C, from 60 days to 20 to 30 days for hepatitis B.
Especially, NAT can detect HIV detection only 11 days after infection, while with electroluminescence testing it takes up to 20 days. Therefore, NAT helps to detect blood samples positive for the above 3 viruses in the earlier window period, with higher accuracy than the old methods.
Besides, NAT technique can also detect hidden virus infections, that is, people who have been infected for a long time, but the virus only exists latently in infected cells and bodies. produces antibodies, so cannot be detected by indirect tests.
NAT giúp phát hiện virus nhanh và chính xác hơn
Molecular biology test is a high testing technique, requiring the operator to have high professional expertise and experience, and the cost of implementation is also quite expensive. Therefore, molecular biology testing is only indicated when traditional testing techniques do not respond or cannot provide an accurate diagnosis for the treatment side.
In developed countries, most hospitals and blood transfusion centers have used NAT technology in blood screening, but in Vietnam only a few hospitals use NAT technology in blood screening. such as: Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Military Hospital 108, Vinmec International General Hospital ...
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only has a team of leading medical doctors, system of modern equipment and technology, but also outstanding with comprehensive and professional medical examination, consultation and treatment services; civilized, polite and safe medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be assured of the accuracy of test results.
To register for a NAT test at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.
