London, UK. February 11, 2019 – MarketsandMarkets recently caught up with expert speaker Richard Tedder, Public Health England (PHE) – UK, regarding the conference 2nd Annual MarketsandMarkets Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Conference, taking place on 28th February – 1st March 2019 in Hotel Novotel London West, UK.
Richard Tedder is a well know Virologist and Microbiologist and is head of the Blood Borne Viruses, National Infection Service, Public Health England – UK. He was also head of the Department of Virology at University College London. Mr. Tedder first published his work on Hepatitis B and work on the diagnostic development and treatment of HIV and Hepatitis C.
Q – What are the recent advances in infectious diseases diagnostics and current challenges that need immediate attention?
A – Molecular diagnostics on the one hand and sequencing in the field are very much the flavour of the month for characterising virus infections associated with outbreaks. These developments have to some extent obscured the need for good serological techniques to support field seroepidemiology. WHO targets for the elimination of diseases, notably hepatitis infections, require better engagement with risk populations in order to expand treatment options. In north-west Europe engaging with people at risk of HCV infections still requires considerable input of seroepidemiology.
Q – What are the new opportunities emerging in your field of work?
A- The steady succession of new agents requiring outbreak control and field seroepidemiology include Ebola, ZIKA, hepatitis E and currently Lassa as active areas requiring better seroepidemiology. Differentiation between vaccine induced antibody and a serological response to native infection will prove difficult.
Q – What are the key take away points from your presentation topic which will help in building the knowledge base of attendees?
A – Conventional blood sampling by venesection may be unwise, for example in the face of ongoing filo virus transmission, may be unacceptable for religious grounds or may be difficult because of resources. Capillary blood sampling and transport as dried blood spots on the one hand and sampling not blood analytes such as oral fluids are both viable alternatives and should always be considered. Modification of testing platforms, microplate and other assays, including lateral flow devices, is always necessary.
Q – Hope you had a chance to go through the agenda, what are your views on it and how helpful it is to the targeted audience?
A – I think it is a broad and interesting programme, I hope there will be enough time for discussion at the end of each presentation, it is usually matters arising in discussion which are often of more interest
Richard Tedder will present his insights on;
- Non-Venous blood sampling
- Principally oral fluid but also including dried blood spots
- Field epidemiology for emerging virus infections
The latest conference agenda and complete speaker line-up is now available to download on the conference page, where you can also register; https://bit.ly/2AsvMiK
For Inquiries Contact Amit Shelke, Marketing Manager on [email protected]
