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Diagnostics
Immunoassay-based diagnostics
For immunoassay-based detection of infectious diseases, several core technologies are
essential, such as the production and purification of high-purity antigens, the production of monoclonal
antibodies, ELISA technology and gene manipulation methods. With the use of these technologies, MBRI has now
asserted its position as the undisputed national leader in the development of diagnostics against infectious
diseases.
In the 1980s, our research had focused mainly on the development of diagnostic kits for the detection of
hepatitis B virus and HIV-1. As a result of our efforts, the HBsAg immunoassay kit and the HIV type 1 and
2 synchronic diagnosis reagents were developed in Korea as a world first. In the 1990s, diagnostic kits
for hepatitis C virus and H. pylori were produced, and more recently, diagnostic agents for HCV core
antigen and for SARS virus have been under development.
 We are now
currently pioneering approaches to diagnostics using a wider range of products, and we are confident that,
with the onset of more innovative technologies as well as our existing expertise, we can meet future needs
for unprecedented advances in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.
Molecular diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics refers to the detection of nucleic acid sequences in cells to gain information that
aids in the diagnosis of disease. Molecular techniques are well suited to the identification of infectious
organisms in human samples since every microorganism contains unique DNA or RNA sequences. Nucleic acid
amplification techniques enzymatically multiply specific nucleic acid sequences, resulting in the production
of billions of copies of that sequence in a short period of time. The amplification product, or amplicon, is
then easily detected by DNA probes, or via other methods, which can then definitively identify the organism
present in the sample.
 A couple of
years ago a new infectious disease, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS), appeared in the
Guangdong providence of China and spread to another 29 countries, affected over 8,000 people, left 774
patients dead and almost paralyzed the Asian economy. Soon after the emerging epidemic, we successfully
developed the SARS-CoV-specific RNA detection kit using real-time RT-PCR technology. With the exception of
-interferon, no licensed drug or vaccine is currently available to treat SARS. In this circumstance, it
is exceedingly important to develop new technologies that will allow for the rapid and simple diagnosis of
SARS, in order to curtail the spread of the virus.
With other available technologies such as lab-on-a-chip, in addition to the established real-time RT-PCR
technique, we are now in the process of developing molecular diagnostic technologies against life-threatening
diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. We firmly believe that these diagnostics will play vital roles in
monitoring the safety of blood supplies and, in the near future, will be further applied to the fields of
veterinary, forensic, military and food science.
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