SCIENTISTS in the region have developed a test which could help hospitals correctly diagnose children suffering from a recently discovered virus.

The test for human metapneumonovirus (hMPV) has been devised by scientists at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) North-East's laboratory, at Newcastle General Hospital, with the assistance of Newcastle University.

Because it is relatively simple, the test has advantages over existing, more elaborate methods of diagnosing the presence of the virus.

It is hoped that the test, unveiled at a national HPA conference, in Warwick, earlier this week, could eventually become standard in UK district general hospitals.

Dr Clive Taylor, a consultant virologist with the HPA North-East, and co-leader of the Newcastle team, along with senior lecturer Dr Geoff Toms, said: "We are not talking about a killer virus. The symptoms of human metapneumo-novirus can be relatively mild or lead to a child being admitted to hospital with respiratory problems."

Children with a positive hMPV can be cared for with other children with the same diagnosis, eliminating possible cross-infection.

Normally children make a full recovery from hMPV although in severe cases antiviral drugs may have to be used.