Rapid MRSA Test Kit Available

A new diagnostic test can identify methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus in 10-15 minutes without the need for specialized training or expensive equipment.

A clinical trial showed the test to be 100% sensitive and 99.5% specific, compared to current methods that can take up to 24 hours to provide results. The fast results enable doctors to begin early antibiotic treatment, which can be critical for wound and postsurgical infections, including life-threatening bloodstream infections and pneumonia. Studies have shown that rapid reporting of susceptibility can reduce mortality, length of stay, and hospital costs.

The US National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) has included testing for PBP2a among its recommended methods of MRSA detection. PBP2a is the protein determinant of the methicillin-resistance gene detected by the MRSA-Screen. The test was developed by Denka Seiken Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.seiken.com), which notes that this test is the only one for PBP2a cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

An added benefit is the reduction in selection for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), a growing hospital problem, according to Dr. Mary York, a clinical microbiologist and consultant for seven California hospitals. "I can truly tell you that microbiology laboratory directors, myself included, have been anxiously awaiting the release of this test for improved patient care.”


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Denka Seiken Co., Ltd.