Pocket Diagnostic helps big win

Phytophthora testing kits play a part in a Government team winning a prestigious science award.

Defra’s Plant Health & Seeds Inspectors (PHSI) and Central Science Laboratory (CSL) scientists have won a UK Civil Service Science and Technology award for improving field diagnosis of the disease Phytophthora. On-site diagnosis using DNA forensics and lateral flow tests - Forsite’s Pocket Diagnostic - was seen by the judges as a great success.

The use of the Phytophthora tests in the field by the Defra PHSI inspectors to screen out negatives has meant that the number of samples sent to CSL for analysis have been reduced by 70%. This has resulted in an estimated saving of around £400,000 a year in laboratory costs.

The Pocket Diagnostic Phytophthora test has been in use by the PHSI inspectors for 4 years as a fast and reliable on-site method to screen plants showing symptoms.  Only samples producing a positve result on the lateral flow test are sent to the laboratory for confirmation of diagnosis.

Inspectors in several other European countries are exploring the benefits to be gained through using Pocket Diagnostic tests.