Pioneering effort to detect Ebola

The video discusses the innovative use of tobacco plants and the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) to improve diagnostic tests for the Ebola virus. Biomedical engineer Nicole Steinmetz and her team at Case Western Reserve University are developing a positive control for Ebola tests using TMV. This aims to reduce false negatives by ensuring the reliability of RNA-based tests, which are prone to degradation. The team is also working on creating simple diagnostic tests for field use, which change color in the presence of Ebola, potentially saving lives by enabling early detection and preventing the spread of the virus.

How does the new diagnostic test aim to simplify the testing process in the field?

What is the significance of accurately diagnosing infected individuals before they spread Ebola?