Hamilton’s ‘Molecular rock star’ develops a test to detect D68 virus at St. Joe’s
Pictured above: Dr. Marek Smieja and Candy Rutherford taken by The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Network’s Virology specialist, Candy Rutherford has created a test that can pinpoint the EV-D68 virus within hours, compared to results in days or weeks from other labs and hospitals. Working in a room with just a few desks, computer and some medical equipment, Rutherford managed to create a test that allows staff to test several patients for several viruses at a time.
Dr. Marek Smieja, who is the head of Virology for the Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program (HRLMP) located at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Charlton Campus, states that Rutherford is HRLMP’s very own ‘molecular rock star’ with her committed time and effort on the rigorous trials and errors in order to create the successful test. The HRMLP is one of the largest integrated laboratory medicine programs in Canada and affiliations with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, McMaster University, and Hamilton Health Sciences.
“Good detection helps good science…we don’t know why a virus that has existed since 1962 has suddenly become a common virus,” Smieja says.
So then, what does the future hold? Since four cases of children with neurological symptoms have occurred in Hamilton, with one tested as positive with the virus, the lab team at the Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program would like to create a new test in the next few weeks. This test would be a proper spinal fluid test, which is where Dr. Smieja and his team believe the virus is targeting in these cases.
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