New Sepsis Screening Test Introduced
A new multi-pathogen screening test to detect the presence of sepsis was launched by Seegene. The company introduced the screening test at the 2008 Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry. This is a key breakthrough in the diagnosis of this potentially life threatening condition.
The test, the Seeplex Sepsis Test, utilizes a fast acting approach to diagnose the serious blood infection condition. The test determines the levels of suspected targets circulating in a patient’s bloodstream. Targets included are 64 different pathogens known for causing sepsis, the majority of which are gram positive bacteria.
The system utilizes a dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) primer system created by Seegene. This tool amplifies DNA sequences with PCR techniques.
Test results are available in less than a day after drawing the blood specimen to be analyzed, actually within five hours. Only 0.4 ml of whole blood is required from patients.
Blood culture, the standard testing method, takes three to four days before results become available. This approach, in addition, is less expensive than blood cultures.
Obviously, the test will reduce the time to determine a definitive diagnosis. This increases the likelihood that patients will be effectively treated. It is also expected that use of this test can reduce the use of antibiotics when not medically necessary.
The test approach was assessed in a trial completed in Korea. Findings from that indicated that the Seeplex Sepsis Test yielded more reliable results than those obtained with blood culture methods.
August 4, 2008 Related topics: Product Launches, New Technology & Innovation, Laboratory Equipment, Diagnostic