Lassa fever near-patient PCR and haemostasis diagnostics

Lassa fever is a life-threatening viral haemorrhagic fever causing tens of thousands of cases in West Africa annually. Diagnosing LF is difficult, as its clinical features are similar to many tropical illnesses and testing is limited to reference laboratories. Severe disease is characterized by bleeding and data from the 1980s suggests that poor platelet function may be a major contributor. This research project will study Lassa fever in adults and children in Sierra Leone where we aim to develop and evaluate novel near-patient/point of care PCR tests to facilitate early diagnosis. We will also investigate changes in bleeding and blood clotting using modern assays, focusing especially on platelet dysfunction, to inform future clinical management approaches. In summary, this research has the potential to achieve rapid and earlier diagnosis of LF and to provide key insights into why patients bleed with Lassa fever. .