New Tick Test Promises Same-Day SFTS Diagnosis

Scientists at the University of Osaka are pioneering a rapid diagnostic kit for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a serious tick-borne viral illness. The project, a collaboration with Fujita Health University and the University of Miyazaki, seeks to enable same-day diagnosis at healthcare sites. SFTS carries a significant mortality rate, between 10 and 30 percent, and its swift deterioration after symptom onset underscores the need for early detection.

Confirmed cases of SFTS have been reported across Asia, with Japan noting infections primarily in its western regions since 2013. Recent years have seen over 100 annual cases, often affecting the elderly. Notably, the disease has expanded its geographic reach, with initial cases appearing in Gifu, Ibaraki, and Hokkaido prefectures in 2025. Current diagnostic methods, like PCR testing, can take up to a full day and require samples to be sent from medical institutions, delaying crucial treatment.

The new diagnostic kit employs an immunochromatographic method, similar to pregnancy or influenza tests, using serum samples to detect antigen-antibody reactions. Visual results would allow medical professionals to quickly identify infections. This advancement is vital as the antiviral drug Avigan requires early administration for maximum efficacy. The University of Osaka is also planning to develop a vaccine for SFTS, aiming to reduce fatalities through both diagnosis and prevention.