A firm is spearheading a vital breakthrough in the battle against the killer brain disease meningitis.

Wantage-based Electro-Medical Supplies (EMS) has developed a revolutionary way to diagnose the disease in a fraction of the time it currently takes.

This week, in a BBC Panorama programme about the recent meningitis outbreak in South Wales which has claimed five lives, health consultants stressed the importance of identifying the disease as quickly as possible.

Present testing methods take up to two days, but EMS has reduced this to just 30 minutes, using a cheaper, simpler method which will bring life-saving diagnoses within easy reach of almost every hospital in the country.

Scientists at Cardiff University and the University of Wales College of Medicine, funded by the Meningitis Research Foundation, have developed the new diagnostic test using the technology now being manufactured at EMS site in Limborough Road.

Trials carried out over the past year at five hospitals in the UK and Eire have proved that the new testing method is superior to traditional techniques, and just as effective as expensive and complex DNA detection techniques. EMS's marketing and export manager, James Greenham, said: "We are very pleased to have had a part to play in the development of this diagnostic test.

"EMS celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, so to be involved with a test which can diagnose meningitis within 30 minutes, rather than the 12-48 hours that it currently takes, will add to our celebrations."

Denise Vaughan, director of the Meningitis Research Foundation which is funding 26 research projects at a cost of £3m, said she was "delighted" with the results.

She said: "Not only is this technique highly effective but it is also affordable.

"This means it could be used in most hospitals in the country and have widespread benefit in countries throughout the world, especially where outbreaks of the disease occur."

Story date: Wednesday 24 February

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