Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, typically spread through contaminated water or food. It leads to sudden watery diarrhea, vomiting, and rapid dehydration, which can be fatal without prompt treatment. The disease spreads quickly in areas with poor sanitation, and those most at risk include children, the elderly, and people living in crisis or disaster-affected regions.
In the last two decades, annual global reports of cholera cases have ranged from 1.3 to 4 million. However, cholera remains a neglected and underreported disease, due in part to limitations in surveillance systems, stigma, and fears of impact on trade or tourism. Estimates from WHO put the real burden of cholera cases up to 4 times of what is actually reported. In such fast-moving emergencies like Cholera resurgence, early detection and rapid response are key to containment. Delayed diagnosis means delayed care — and higher mortality.
Cholera O1/O139 Rapid Test Kit Principle and Technology
To meet this urgent diagnostic need, Vitrosens Biotechnology offers the Cholera O1/O139 Rapid Test Kit — a quick, visual, and reliable lateral flow immunoassay designed for field use and resource-limited settings.
- Targets O1 and O139 — the two serogroups responsible for virtually all epidemic cholera cases worldwide
- 15-minute result — allows same-day triage and public health action
- No cold chain required — stable at 2–30°C, ideal for field deployment
- Compatible with WHO surveillance guidance — aids presumptive diagnosis in outbreak conditions
- No cross-reactivity — tested against 17 common pathogens including E. coli, Shigella, and Salmonella
Steps of Use of the Kit
Simple and rapid procedure for detecting Vibrio cholerae O1/O139 antigens:
- Sample Collection
Collect approximately 50 mg of solid feces using the specimen collection applicator, or use 2 drops of liquid stool into the provided specimen collection tube with buffer. - Mixing
Close the tube tightly and shake it vigorously to mix the sample with the buffer. Let it stand for 2 minutes to allow sedimentation. - Sample Loading
Open the specimen collection tube and dispense 2 full drops of the extracted specimen into the sample well of the test cassette. - Incubation and Result Interpretation
Start the timer and wait exactly 15 minutes. Read the results visually at 15 minutes.
Cholera O1/O139 Rapid Test Kit Advantages
The WHO report emphasizes strengthening surveillance, case management, and diagnostics as critical next steps in outbreak response. Our rapid test kit supports these goals by:
- Room temperature storage
- Reducing laboratory turnaround time
- Enabling rapid case identification
- Supporting real-time data collection for national and global reporting
Conclusion
Vitrosens is supporting ministries of health, NGOs, and emergency responders with Cholera O1/O139 Rapid Test Kit. If you are engaged in cholera surveillance or outbreak response, reach out to us for demo kits or procurement inquiries.
“Every minute counts in a cholera outbreak. Our goal is to put a reliable diagnostic tool in the hands of those who need it most — fast.”
Contact the Vitrosens team today for evaluation kits and expert technical support!
Key References:
- Multi-country outbreak of cholera, external situation report #27 -17 June 2025
- Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC). (n.d.). Cholera facts. Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://www.gtfcc.org/about-cholera/cholera-facts/
- Vitrosens Biotechnology. Cholera O1/O139 Rapid Test Kit – Technical Manual.
