(By Balachander) Nanosphere Inc. (NASDAQ:NSPH) announced that it has received authorization from the U.S. health regulators to market its Verigene gram-positive blood culture (BC-GP) test on its molecular diagnostic platform.
The Northbrook, Illinois-based company's BC-GP test is an automated nucleic acid test for the identification of genus, species, and genetic resistance determinants for a broad panel of the most common gram-positive blood culture isolates. Nanosphere's Verigene system enables highly sensitive nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) and protein testing on a single platform.
Nanosphere said the test expands its infectious disease test capabilities to include fast detection of bacteria that can cause deadly bloodstream infections.
"With the BC-GP test, patients suspected of deadly infections can now get a first-ever diagnostic tool for detecting disease-causing bacteria while simultaneously determining antibiotic resistance within the critical timeframe for making and adjusting initial treatment," said chief executive William Moffitt.
The BC-GP test provides identification of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes from gram-positive blood culture bottles within two and a half hours, as compared with current microbiological methods, which can take up to two to three days, the company said.
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