Commercially available cell line can detect ASF

Federal researchers have identified a new way of detecting African swine fever that minimizes the need for samples from live animals, USDA reported.

“We have identified a cell line that can be used to isolate and detect the presence of the live virus,” said Douglas Gladue, a scientist from the Agricultural Research Service. “This is a critical breakthrough and a tremendous step for African swine fever virus diagnostics.”

Until now, effective detection of ASF required collecting blood cells from a live donor pig for every diagnostic test, because the cells could only be used once, according to USDA. The new cell line can be continuously replicated and frozen to create cells for future use, reducing the number of live donor animals needed.

It’s also commercially available to veterinary diagnostic labs that traditionally didn’t have access to swine blood cells needed to test for live ASF virus.