NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Molecular diagnostics firm Cepheid today said that it has received the CE Mark for its test that rapidly identifies the vanA and/or vanB genes, which are most commonly associated with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based firm also said that it has launched the Xpert vanA/vanB test, which provides results in 45 minutes and runs on the company’s GeneXpert System. It is the first test developed and manufactured by Cepheid’s Swedish subsidiary, Cepheid AB.
The test will compete with another molecular diagnostic test, the BD GeneOhm VanR assay, which also detects vanA and vanB genes and is sold by Becton Dickinson. BD received the CE Mark for its test earlier this year.
Cepheid cited figures from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System showing that VRE outbreaks increased in Europe from 3.3 percent in 2001 to 7.8 percent in 2004. Immunocompromised patients are at particular risk for VRE infections, which can cause wound, urinary tract, and intraabdominal infections, in addition to bacteremia and endocarditis.
“A rapid test for detection of drug resistance genes associated with VRE has the potential to significantly improve the way hospital surveillance is done for this group of organisms,” Fred Tenover, senior director of scientific affairs at Cepheid, said in a statement.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Telechem, BioSystems International to Collaborate on Proteome Microarray
NEW YORK – Integrated Media Holdings today said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Telechem International, has entered into an exclusive agreement with BioSystems International to make and sell microarrays featuring antibodies that identify proteins uniquely expressed in human plasma.
Under the pact, BSI will provide normal human plasma-profiling monoclonal antibodies. Telechem, which also operates under the name Arrayit, will use its microarray technology to print the antibodies onto glass slides. It also will market the Human Plasma Proteome Microarray through its existing network of worldwide marketing partners.
“This unique approach of using novel antibodies to detect human plasma proteins will speed the research and identification of biomarkers for early-stage disease diagnostics,” Telechem CEO Rene Schena said in a statement.
The partners expect the first microarrays from the collaboration to be available next quarter.
Source: GenomeWeb News
Under the pact, BSI will provide normal human plasma-profiling monoclonal antibodies. Telechem, which also operates under the name Arrayit, will use its microarray technology to print the antibodies onto glass slides. It also will market the Human Plasma Proteome Microarray through its existing network of worldwide marketing partners.
“This unique approach of using novel antibodies to detect human plasma proteins will speed the research and identification of biomarkers for early-stage disease diagnostics,” Telechem CEO Rene Schena said in a statement.
The partners expect the first microarrays from the collaboration to be available next quarter.
Source: GenomeWeb News
Saturday, September 27, 2008
CH2M Hill wins Vancouver Wastewater Contract
September 08 - Canada - CH2M Hill has been chosen by Metro Vancouver to undertake planning and conceptual engineering for the Iona island wastewater treatment plant in Vancouver, British Columbia. As main consultant the company will develop plans for the upgrade and will examine enhancements such as beneficial reuse of solid and liquid effluent byproducts, energy conservation and reuse, and community access to educational and environmental features of the site and surrounding area. The study will also address new building regulations that take into consideration the seismic activity in the project’s area.
Dow reaches RO research agreement
September 08 - USA- Dow Water Solutions has reached a multi-year joint development partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and University of Texas at Austin. Under the agreement, Dow Water Solutions will collaborate with Virginia Tech and UT on the research and development of oxidation-resistant reverse osmosis membranes. The joint partnership will tackle one of the toughest technical challenges in the desalination industry, developing oxidation-resistant, or chlorine-resistant, RO membranes that will simplify the water treatment process and convert highly-contaminated waters into potable water sources.
Faster Flu Test
Infectious Disease Specialists Design New Rapid Flu Test
— New flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes, to cut down on needless antibiotic use, which can build up resistance and make some infections untreatable by current methods.
Every year, up to one in five Americans will get the flu. It's not always easy to make an accurate diagnosis and as many as 90 percent of patients who really have the flu will be prescribed antibiotics, drugs that will not help flu viruses. New, faster flu tests will help doctors diagnose patients quicker, which can cut down on needless antibiotic use.
When patients take antibiotics that they don't need, it leads to antibiotic resistance. Ann Falsey, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York, says, "It's a huge problem. There are some bacteria which have become resistant to all antibiotics."
Now, with a simple swab of the nose, rapid flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes compared to the usual five days. Dr. Falsey told DBIS, "I think the big advantage would be to cut down on needless antibiotic use."
Dr. Falsey found using rapid flu tests reduced the number of antibiotics prescribed and used. She says, "The doctors less-frequently prescribed antibiotics, and if they had started them on antibiotics, when the test came back, then they stopped the antibiotics."
Most hospitals are using rapid flu tests, but the tests are not common in doctor's offices yet. According to Dr. Falsey, that's where they'll have the most impact. The tests will also confirm the need for anti-viral medications, the only drugs that actually help the flu. Dr. Falsey says not every virus is influenza, so the rapid flu test won't provide all the information a doctor needs. However, researchers are hoping to develop rapid tests like these to identify other viruses, like corona viruses and rhino viruses.
The American Society for Microbiology contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
BACKGROUND: New tests to rapidly detect the flu are allowing doctors to cut down on the number of hospital patients who receive antibiotics, helping soften the rapidly worsening threat of antibiotic resistance. Doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics, which work on bacteria but not viruses, if there is documented evidence that a patient has the flu -- which is caused by a virus -- and not a bacterial infection. The research was done by infection control experts at Rochester General Hospital in New York.
ABOUT THE STUDY: The Rochester scientists analyzed the records of 166 patients who had the flu when they were hospitalized. Eighty-six of the patients tested positive with the rapid test, which gives an answer within minutes, while the other 80 either tested negative or did not have the test done. When they checked the later treatment, they found that 86% of patients whose flu was confirmed early on were treated with antibiotics, compared to 99% of patients whose flu was not identified immediately. The overuse of antibiotics makes patients and the community more vulnerable to microbes resistant to most treatments. Yet doctors often prescribe antibiotics in case patients also have a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, in addition to the flu.
WHAT IS THE FLU: The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which targets the respiratory tract by binding to the surface of cells. Then the virus releases its genetic information into the cell's nucleus to replicate itself. When the cell dies, those copies are released into the body, infecting other cells. Flu symptoms are unpleasant, but not life-threatening by themselves. However, the flu weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to more serious infections, such as pneumonia. Because the flu is caused by a virus -- as opposed to bacteria -- antibiotics are not an effective treatment. Both the flu and the common cold are best treated by bed rest, consuming lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medication to ease symptoms until the virus runs its course.
ORIGINAL ANTIGENIC SIN: Original antigenic sin occurs when the antibodies produced by the body's immune system to fight exposure to the flu virus become part of the body's "memory" so that it can fight off future exposure the same flu strain. The problem is that those same antibodies end up suppressing the creation of new antibodies when the body is exposed to a new strain of the flu, making last year's flu vaccine ineffective against the newer strain. The phenomenon has also been observed in dengue fever and HIV, among other viruses.
Originally posted May 20007
Source: Science Daily
— New flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes, to cut down on needless antibiotic use, which can build up resistance and make some infections untreatable by current methods.
Every year, up to one in five Americans will get the flu. It's not always easy to make an accurate diagnosis and as many as 90 percent of patients who really have the flu will be prescribed antibiotics, drugs that will not help flu viruses. New, faster flu tests will help doctors diagnose patients quicker, which can cut down on needless antibiotic use.
When patients take antibiotics that they don't need, it leads to antibiotic resistance. Ann Falsey, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York, says, "It's a huge problem. There are some bacteria which have become resistant to all antibiotics."
Now, with a simple swab of the nose, rapid flu tests can diagnose the flu in as little as 30 minutes compared to the usual five days. Dr. Falsey told DBIS, "I think the big advantage would be to cut down on needless antibiotic use."
Dr. Falsey found using rapid flu tests reduced the number of antibiotics prescribed and used. She says, "The doctors less-frequently prescribed antibiotics, and if they had started them on antibiotics, when the test came back, then they stopped the antibiotics."
Most hospitals are using rapid flu tests, but the tests are not common in doctor's offices yet. According to Dr. Falsey, that's where they'll have the most impact. The tests will also confirm the need for anti-viral medications, the only drugs that actually help the flu. Dr. Falsey says not every virus is influenza, so the rapid flu test won't provide all the information a doctor needs. However, researchers are hoping to develop rapid tests like these to identify other viruses, like corona viruses and rhino viruses.
The American Society for Microbiology contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
BACKGROUND: New tests to rapidly detect the flu are allowing doctors to cut down on the number of hospital patients who receive antibiotics, helping soften the rapidly worsening threat of antibiotic resistance. Doctors are less likely to prescribe antibiotics, which work on bacteria but not viruses, if there is documented evidence that a patient has the flu -- which is caused by a virus -- and not a bacterial infection. The research was done by infection control experts at Rochester General Hospital in New York.
ABOUT THE STUDY: The Rochester scientists analyzed the records of 166 patients who had the flu when they were hospitalized. Eighty-six of the patients tested positive with the rapid test, which gives an answer within minutes, while the other 80 either tested negative or did not have the test done. When they checked the later treatment, they found that 86% of patients whose flu was confirmed early on were treated with antibiotics, compared to 99% of patients whose flu was not identified immediately. The overuse of antibiotics makes patients and the community more vulnerable to microbes resistant to most treatments. Yet doctors often prescribe antibiotics in case patients also have a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, in addition to the flu.
WHAT IS THE FLU: The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which targets the respiratory tract by binding to the surface of cells. Then the virus releases its genetic information into the cell's nucleus to replicate itself. When the cell dies, those copies are released into the body, infecting other cells. Flu symptoms are unpleasant, but not life-threatening by themselves. However, the flu weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to more serious infections, such as pneumonia. Because the flu is caused by a virus -- as opposed to bacteria -- antibiotics are not an effective treatment. Both the flu and the common cold are best treated by bed rest, consuming lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medication to ease symptoms until the virus runs its course.
ORIGINAL ANTIGENIC SIN: Original antigenic sin occurs when the antibodies produced by the body's immune system to fight exposure to the flu virus become part of the body's "memory" so that it can fight off future exposure the same flu strain. The problem is that those same antibodies end up suppressing the creation of new antibodies when the body is exposed to a new strain of the flu, making last year's flu vaccine ineffective against the newer strain. The phenomenon has also been observed in dengue fever and HIV, among other viruses.
Originally posted May 20007
Source: Science Daily
India praised for water testing technology
India was praised for its "constructive and thought-provoking inputs" into the functioning of U N environment and habitat agencies in Nairobi recently, with its innovative water testing technology being particularly appreciated by countries. Klaus Toepfer, the director general of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNION), said: "India has been playing a very positive and constructive role in HABITAT's (U N Centre for Human Settlements--UNCHS-HABITAT) ultimate objective of shelter for all. "Although we are still far from achieving that goal, Dr Arcot Ramachandran of India, the first executive director of HABITAT from the day it was established in 1978, gave the U N body a sense of purpose and a direction which we are trying to follow until today," he said.
Toepfer, who is also executive director of the U N Environment Programme (UNEP) and acting executive director of HABITAT, was speaking at a reception of diplomats hosted by India's High Commissioner to Kenya Rajiv Bhatia, who is the country's permanentrepresentative to the UNION. The reception was held in honour of visiting Urban Development minister Ram Jethmalani, who was in Nairobi to participate in the 17th session of the Commission on Human Settlements, the governing body for HABITAT.
Toepfer said Jethmalani had announced a contribution of $1 million by New Delhi for the 1999 programme of HABITAT, whose total budget for the 1999-2000 biennium is $20 million. He also praised Jethmalani for his "moving and inspirational address to the delegates which set the tone of the deliberations during the remaining part of the session." Toepfer said delegates were particularly impressed by India's water-testing technology. "In fact, the various delegates and Kenyan government officials are going to make a presentation of 24 India-made water-testing kits to a Nairobi NGO for distribution to six schools in a slum area," he said.
The water-testing kit, an innovation by an Indian NGO called Development Alternatives, is small, portable and durable, "and has beenthoroughly tested by schools in New Delhi," he added.
Toepfer said, "Use of the kits in slums will inspire similar efforts by schools in other communities and countries in Africa and the findings could re-focus water policy and budget priorities throughout the continent."
Source: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Toepfer, who is also executive director of the U N Environment Programme (UNEP) and acting executive director of HABITAT, was speaking at a reception of diplomats hosted by India's High Commissioner to Kenya Rajiv Bhatia, who is the country's permanentrepresentative to the UNION. The reception was held in honour of visiting Urban Development minister Ram Jethmalani, who was in Nairobi to participate in the 17th session of the Commission on Human Settlements, the governing body for HABITAT.
Toepfer said Jethmalani had announced a contribution of $1 million by New Delhi for the 1999 programme of HABITAT, whose total budget for the 1999-2000 biennium is $20 million. He also praised Jethmalani for his "moving and inspirational address to the delegates which set the tone of the deliberations during the remaining part of the session." Toepfer said delegates were particularly impressed by India's water-testing technology. "In fact, the various delegates and Kenyan government officials are going to make a presentation of 24 India-made water-testing kits to a Nairobi NGO for distribution to six schools in a slum area," he said.
The water-testing kit, an innovation by an Indian NGO called Development Alternatives, is small, portable and durable, "and has beenthoroughly tested by schools in New Delhi," he added.
Toepfer said, "Use of the kits in slums will inspire similar efforts by schools in other communities and countries in Africa and the findings could re-focus water policy and budget priorities throughout the continent."
Source: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Roche Gets FDA Clearance for Hepatitis B PCR Test
September 4, 2008
NEW YORK – Roche has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its Cobas TaqMan HBV Test, the firm said today.
The test uses real-time PCR to quantify the amount of hepatitis B virus DNA in a patient’s blood. It may be used by physicians to determine a baseline level of infection and thereafter as an aid in assessing a patient’s response to therapy.
According to Roche, it is the first hepatitis B viral load test approved for marketing by the FDA.
Roche’s real-time HIV test was cleared by the FDA in May 2007, and the firm has filed for clearance of its quantitative HCV test.
Source: -GenomeWeb News
NEW YORK – Roche has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its Cobas TaqMan HBV Test, the firm said today.
The test uses real-time PCR to quantify the amount of hepatitis B virus DNA in a patient’s blood. It may be used by physicians to determine a baseline level of infection and thereafter as an aid in assessing a patient’s response to therapy.
According to Roche, it is the first hepatitis B viral load test approved for marketing by the FDA.
Roche’s real-time HIV test was cleared by the FDA in May 2007, and the firm has filed for clearance of its quantitative HCV test.
Source: -GenomeWeb News
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