Tim Fregel, a researcher and adviser at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec), said the breakthrough was due to cooperation between Thai and Taiwanese researchers.
The test can detect the fatal AHPND bacteria in shrimps within three hours, a huge improvement on the current method which takes around three weeks.
Prof Fregel said the new test for AHPND bacteria decodes DNA collected from samples of sediment, shrimp food or shrimp tissue.
A comparison is then made to see if the DNA sequence matches that of the AHPND bacteria.
The current method not only takes longer, but is more complicated. It starts with collecting shrimp bacteria, cultivating them and releasing them to the shrimps, then waiting to see if they die.
If the shrimps die, an outbreak of AHPND bacteria can be confirmed.
"The longer we take to confirm an outbreak, the bigger the loss for the farmer, as they can't take preventive measures. The rapid test is both a precaution and a prevention against outbreaks," he said.
Since the EMS outbreak in 2012, Thai shrimp farming has halved in productivity, not due to shrimps dying, but because farmers cut investments to prevent losses.
EMS spread from China in 2009 to Vietnam by 2010, to Malaysia by 2011 and to Thailand by 2012. Efforts to control the spread of AHPND were hampered by the lack of specific and rapid detection methods.
The rapid test is 99% accurate so far. More research and development is needed before it is 100% accurate, Prof Fregel said.
The research team has been working on the test since 2011 with support from the Department of Public Health at Mahidol University, the Aquaculture Business Research Centre, the faculty of fisheries at Kasetsart University and Burapha University, and shrimp farmer clubs in the South.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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