Frequently Asked Questions

GenePasQ® is a registered trademark of SURE Marketing Company, Inc. for its Shrimp Pathogen or Disease Detection Kits.

The GenePasQ® products are available commercially to detect 2, 3 or4 DNA Shrimp Diseases simultaneously and also to detect 3 RNA virus Shrimp Diseases at the same time. Our Supplier, TBA Co., Ltd. (Japan) could develop SPECIAL Test Kits depending on the potential sales quantities of such SPECIAL Test Kits.

GenePasQ® uses the Multiplex PCR and DNA Chromatography Strip Method for detecting simultaneously 2, 3 or 4 shrimp diseases in a single Testing Cycle.

The GenePasQ® Test Kits use specially-formulatedOIE-approved Primers and Primer Mixes that can detect up to 4 Shrimp Diseases AT THE SAME TIME in conjunction with the C-PAS DNA Chromatography Strip without the need for the Gel Electrophoresis after the PCR or Amplification step.

The C-PAS DNA Chromatography Strips are manufactured by TBA (Tohoku Bio-Array) Co., Ltd.of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, JAPAN with the Patent licensed by NGK INSULATORS, Ltd. (JAPAN). It uses the STH Method.

STH stands for “Single-stranded Tag Hybridization”. It was Patented in March 2014 as a new genetic testing method to simultaneously detect the presence or absence of up to 12 shrimp diseases (DNA or RNA virus types) in a sample in a single C-PAS DNA Chromatography Strip.

The GenePasQ®products were developed in JAPAN by TBA Co., Ltd. (Sendai, MiyagiPrefecture) in collaboration with TUMSAT (Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology) under Professor Ikuo Hirono who developed the Primers/Primer Mixes for the GenePasQ® kits.

The GenePasQ® Shrimp Pathogen Detection Kits are manufactured in JAPAN by TBA Co., Ltd.

The MAJOR advantages of the GenePasQ®Test Kits over the leading brand and other existing methods are:
1.You can simultaneously detect up to 4 Shrimp diseases (or pathogens).
2.You can SAVE from 4.5 to 6 hours of Testing Time.
3.You will use LESS reagents.
4.Gel Electrophoresis is not needed.
5.It is SAFER to use because exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and UV light in Gel Electrophoresis are avoided.
6.It is ten (10) times MORE sensitive than Gel Electrophoresis.
7.You can detect the presence or absence of up to 4 Shrimp Diseases Diseases (pathogens) after 2 – 3 hours from the start of sample preparation.
8. It is SIMPLE and EASY TO USE.
9. It has better SENSITIVITY and SPECIFICITY than the leading brand and existing methods.
10. You can use your existing conventional PCR machine.
11. If you have an existing PCR laboratory, there is NO NEED to invest in ADDITIONAL equipment.
12. The C-PAS strip of the GenePasQ®Test Kits has a “built-in” Internal Control (IC) line.

The GenePasQ® Test Kits are sensitive to detect 10 copies of DNA per 10 ul (10 microliters). It has been tested to have a sensitivity down to 1 copy/10 ul for some Shrimp diseases (pathogens). It is 10 times MORE sensitive than the Gel Electrophoresis.

The GenePasQ® Test Kits offer 100% SPECIFICITY thereby eliminating FALSE POSITIVE results.

No, it does not require the nested PCR method.

The GenePasQ® Test Kit consists of a Test Kit complete with the recommended Extraction Reagent, C-PAS (F6) strips, Primer Solution, Latex Solution, Dilution Buffer, a Positive Control Set and the PCR enzyme for the various DNA and RNA virus Shrimp Diseases that will be targeted for detection.

The “POSITIVE CONTROL” contains synthesized fragments of the individual DNA or RNA virus sequence of pathogens (diseases). One (1) “POSITIVE CONTROL” for each Shrimp Disease is included in the “POSITIVE CONTROL SET” that comes with the GenePasQ® DNA or RNA virus Shrimp Disease or Pathogen Detection Kit.

They are useful to check if the PCR process and settings are properly done. They can also be used for your initial training on HOW TO USE the GenePasQ® Test Kits.

When stored properly, the kit can be used for one (1) year.

They should be REFRIGERATED at 2 to 8 degrees Centigrade.

One (1) year when stored properly.

When not used, they must always be kept inside a FREEZER at minus 20 degrees Centigrade (or at -20 degrees Celsius).

It should be stored inside the REFRIGERATOR at +2 to +8 degrees Centigrade.

Their STORAGE LIVES will be SHORTENED and their PERFORMANCE will be AFFECTED.

Yes, during use, you should hold a portion of the absorbing pad with DRIED hands. Touching the other parts or holding theC-PAS(F6) strip with WET hands will result in insufficient reaction. Other than these, we suggest that the C-PAS(F6) strips be REFRIGERATED for longer SHELF LIFE.

Yes, as designed, it has a “built-in” Internal Control (IC) line.

After the PCR process and approximately 10 to 12 minutes after the C-PAS strip is dipped into the PCR tube containing the Target gene(s), if there is NO target gene or Shrimp Pathogen (disease) in the sample being tested, a blue colored IC (Internal Control) line will appear on top of the C-PAS strip.

It tells the PCR user that the PCR machine is working and could detect DNA in a sample. It also tells the PCR user that the PCR Test Procedures were correctly done.

The blue IC (Internal Control) line in the C-PAS strip often becomes FAINT or VERY LIGHT and DIFFICULT TO SEE when a target gene or a Shrimp Pathogen is detected in the sample. This is normal and should not be a cause for alarm.

You can read the results on the C-PAS strips either VISUALLY using the “GenePasQ® READING GUIDE & DATA SHEET” or by using the C-PAS Image Reader.

It is a device that is used with a desktop or laptop Computer allowing the End-User to EASILY, ACCURATELY and QUICKLY read the Test Results on each C-PAS strip. Using this device allows the End-User to use MORE quantities of C-PAS strips compared to VISUAL reading (using the naked eyes).

After connecting it to a personal Computer (PC), mount five (5) pieces of C-PAS strips into a special Strip Holder. Then, insert the Strip Holder into a slot in the C-PAS Image Reader. The C-PAS Image Reader will then automatically SCAN each Strip and its special Software will read the Test Results on each Strip.

The C-PAS Image Reader will display on the Computer Screen either a “POSITIVE” or a“NEGATIVE” test results for each Strip. A “POSITIVE” result means the PRESENCE of a Shrimp Disease. A “NEGATIVE” result confirms the ABSENCE of a Shrimp Disease.

Three (3) seconds per C-PAS Strip or a TOTAL of 15 seconds for the five (5) C-PAS strips.

This device would be able to read LIGHT (faint) or VERY LIGHT (barely visible) BLUE detection lines on the C-PAS strips which would be VERY DIFFICULT for the human eyes to read. This increases the ACCURACY in reading the Test Results on the strips.

Please click the Tab, “C-PAS STRIP IMAGE READER”, in the HOME webpage for PHOTOS of this device and for additional details.

You will see 2, 3 or 4 blue lines at the specified locations where these Shrimp Pathogens (diseases) should appear. If there are four (4) Shrimp Pathogens in the sample tested, four (4) blue detection lines will appear in the C-PAS strip. If there are 3 diseases present in the sample, 3 blue lines will be visible in the strip. If 2 diseases are detected, there will be 2 blue lines in the C-PAS strip.

They are POSITION markers.

They are used as REFERENCE lines to more easily see the RELATIVE POSITONS of the emerging blue detection lines and readily identify the Shrimp Pathogen(s) detected by the C-PAS strip.

They always appear in the C-PAS strip with or without a reaction.

The GenePasQ® DNA Test Kit can detect:EHP(Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei)
WSSV (White Spot Syndrome Virus)
IHHNV (Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus,Type 1 & 2) and
EMS/AHPND (Vibrio parahaemolyticus).

The GenePasQ® RNA virus Test Kit can detect:YHV (Yellow Head Virus, genotype 1), TSV (Taura Syndrome Virus) and IMNV (Infectious Myonecrosis Virus) shrimp diseases.

It detects PLASMIDS.

Yes,these are now underway.

We highly recommend the GenCheck (Japan) Extraction Reagent for DNA extractions in samples. The QIAGEN (Germany) Extraction Kits have likewise been proven very effective for both DNA and RNA virus extractions.

The PCR Kits and PCR enzymes from QIAGEN (Germany) have been found to give the BEST results for both DNA and RNA virus GenePasQ® Shrimp Disease Detection Kits.

Yes, but these kits have to be optimized first with the GenePasQ® Kits. Please contact SURE Marketing if you intend to use other Extraction and PCR kits or PCR enzymes.

Conventional PCR machines or Thermocyclers are MOST SUITABLE with the GenePasQ® Test Kits.

Many brands of conventional PCR machine have been found to work well. Examples are: GeneAmp 9700 (ABi) Veriti 200 (ABi) Mastercycler (Eppendorf) SimpliAmp (ABi) Rotor-Gene (Qiagen), etc. We likewise market the QUICK BATH portable conventional Thermocycler and the QUICK MOBILE mobile PCR machines from JAPAN which work very well with the GenePasQ® Test Kits.

No, the GenePasQ® Test Kits will not work with these equipment.

A typical DNA Laboratory using the GenePasQ® Test Kits usually have the following Lab Equipment: Thermo-Shaker, High Speed , Mini Centrifuge, Vortex Mixer, Low Speed, Mini Centrifuge, PCR Machine (Thermocycler) and, 3 sets of HIGH quality Micropipettes.

Live, frozen or boiled shrimps, naupli, zoei, fries or Post Larvae (PL), bacterial colonies like Vibrio parahaemolyticus from agar plates, positive tissues, soil, water, crabs, polychaetes, artemia, other crustaceans, snails, worms, etc. have been successfully tested with GenePasQ® Test Kits to detect EHP, WSSV, IHHNV, EMS/AHPND, YHV, TSV and IMNV shrimp diseases.

The Primers and Primer Mixes used in our DNA & RNA virus GenePasQ® Test Kits are OIE-approved and were developed by Professor Ikuo Hirono of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT) located in Tokyo, JAPAN.

If a target gene (Shrimp disease) is detected, the BLUE detection line(s) will appear in approximately 10 to 12 minutes after the C-PAS strips are dipped into the PCR vials.

When NO target gene exists in the sample, the BLUE Internal Control (IC) line on top of the C-PAS strip will appear.

If the used C-PAS (F6) strip is kept out of sunlight, the BLUE detection lines will be preserved for at least one (1) year or longer.

It is only a QUALITATIVE method which tells the PRESENCE or ABSENCE of a SHRIMP Disease(s). The GenePasQ® Test Kits were developed for EASE of USE of the Shrimp Hatcheries and Shrimp Pond Growers who want a QUICK, SIMPLE, ACCURATE and COST- EFFECTIVE Test Method that confirms the PRESENCE or ABSENCE of various Shrimp Diseases using the least number of PCR laboratory equipment.

It is a CONFIRMATORY Test method for simultaneously detecting Shrimp DNA or RNA virus diseases. When a disease or multiple diseases are detected by GenePasQ® DNA or RNA virus Test Kits, there is NO NEED to further check, verify or confirm the PRESENCE or ABSENCE of these pathogens using other Test Methods.

Yes, as long as utmost care is taken to avoid CONTAMINATION or CROSS CONTAMINATION of the various reagents and Positive Controls during the extraction and PCR process. The area where the test is done must be CLEAN and properly sanitized.

The GenePasQ® DNA IHHNV Test Kit is now being registered with the OIE (Paris, France). However, this process will takeone (1) year or longer. We have likewise applied for Product Registration in INDONESIA for some of our GenePasQ® DNA Kits.

Yes, an article was published in October 2017 in the Journal of Fish Diseases. The title of this article is “A rapid method for simultaneously diagnosing four shrimp diseases using PCR-DNA Chromatography method”. Another article entitled “Rapid Diagnosis of three shrimp RNA viruses using RT-PCR- DNA chromatography” was published on 28 May 2018 in the same Journal of Fish Diseases. More Scientific Articles are forthcoming.

You can download copies of these 2 Articles from the Sure-Bio Website “FREE OF CHARGE”.

Visit our www.sure-bio.com website or fill out the “Request for Information” page in our website. You can DOWNLOAD the various GenePasQ® brochures and other Technical Data from here. You can also send your inquiries via e-mail to our smci@sure-bio.com e-mail address.

We have a network of affiliate Companies and Distributors worldwide. You can contact them or us directly for your GenePasQ® Test Kits requirements. Please go to the “How to Buy” or “Locations” pages of our website for the complete Contact Details of our Distributor(s) nearest your location.