A new high-performance diagnostic kit developed in Singapore to detect the highly pathogenic H5 strain of the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) has officially entered the commercial market and is set for regional distribution across Southeast Asia by the end of the year.
The test kit, named Steadfast H5-HPAI, was co-developed through an international collaboration between the Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub), a national diagnostics platform hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) in Japan, and ASTAR’s Bioinformatics Institute (BII).
First developed in November 2024, Steadfast has now been successfully translated from a research prototype into a fully validated commercial product.
Designed for use in centralized laboratories, Steadfast is capable of rapidly and accurately detecting the presence of H5 subtype avian influenza viruses in under three hours.
It boasts high sensitivity and specificity, which are essential features for early detection of outbreaks and timely implementation of containment strategies.
By enabling rapid diagnostics in national surveillance centers and large-scale veterinary or public health settings, the Steadfast kit is expected to strengthen regional preparedness and response to avian flu outbreaks, an ongoing threat to both poultry industries and public health across Asia.
Unlike field-based tests that prioritize speed at the expense of accuracy, laboratory-based diagnostics like Steadfast offer a more robust solution for confirming the presence of high-risk pathogens.
Centralized labs with proper instrumentation and strict quality control processes allow for greater consistency, traceability, and data integration.
These attributes are crucial for government agencies managing real-time surveillance systems, which rely on timely and reliable data to mount a coordinated response to emerging threats.
In a significant move toward deployment, the assay has been non-exclusively licensed to BioAcumen Global Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based biotechnology startup specializing in molecular diagnostics.
BioAcumen will be responsible for manufacturing and distributing the kits across Southeast Asia, targeting a range of end-users including national disease surveillance centers, veterinary clinics, hospitals, and private laboratories. Distribution is scheduled to begin in December 2025.
Director and Chief Scientist of BioAcumen Global Jimmy Toh, emphasized the importance of bringing advanced diagnostics out of the lab and into the hands of frontline users.
Chief Executive Officer of DxD Hub, Dr Weng Ruifen expressed strong support for the collaboration.
“We are very excited to partner with BioAcumen to translate our diagnostic innovations into real‑world solutions,” she said.
The successful commercialisation of Steadfast underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in the health technology sector. By bringing together scientific research institutions and entrepreneurial companies, such partnerships accelerate the translation of lab innovations into practical tools that protect lives and livelihoods.
With demand for fast, accurate, and scalable disease diagnostics on the rise in the wake of recent zoonotic outbreaks, the launch of Steadfast is a timely development.
Regional health authorities and agricultural sectors are welcoming the initiative, anticipating that the kit will help bolster biosecurity frameworks and minimize the economic disruptions caused by flu outbreaks among poultry populations.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
