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IMDx stresses the need for earlier and more accurate detection of carriers of health care-associated infections (HAI).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 2011 - IMDx has identified the limitations of current diagnostic methods for the most threatening health care-associated infections (HAI), methycillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridium difficile, in order to strengthen the criteria for more accurate tests. The review is the Featured Article in the May 2011 issue of LabMedicine.
The future of molecular diagnostics for HAI depends heavily on the adaptation of existing commercial assays to detect new strains and previously unknown markers of common organisms associated with HAI. The sensitivity and specificity of these tests must also be increased to ensure low rates of false-positives and false-negatives.
The Center for Disease Control states that early detection of HAI, either prior to or at hospital admittance, is necessary to reduce transmission between patients and healthcare workers, as well as to reduce costs and use of hospital resources.
Several key drivers must be balanced to solidify the acceptance of molecular assays in screening patients for the common organisms associated with HAI. The ability to run multiple patient samples simultaneously without compromising quality of results and adding unnecessary costs and time constraints to clinical laboratories is crucial. Unambiguous results are critical to providing the infection control information doctors need to make major strides in limiting HAI.
Early and accurate detection of carriers is a minimal step that can be taken within the hospital setting, but it has a significant impact. A concerted effort to improve diagnostic tests for HAI is essential.
About Intelligent Medical Devices, Inc.
Based in Cambridge, MA. IMDx (www.IntelligentMDx.com) is an innovative company that designs, develops and manufactures molecular diagnostic products. IMDx has developed molecular solutions that are clinically impactful and competitively differentiated for a range of disease areas for current and next generation systems, including targets in infectious diseases, oncology and genetics. IMDx’s expertise spans evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, microbiology, chemistry and molecular biology. These capabilities are harnessed by IMDx’s proprietary bioinformatics and product development processes allowing for the rapid design and development of test solutions to meet clinical needs.
For additional information about IMDx, contact cc@IntelligentMDx.com or visit www.IntelligentMDx.com.
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