New rtPCR kit to detect Aspergillus infection

Submitted by Aspergillus Administrator on 5 September 2008

Rapid detection of aspergillus infections are of prime importance for a good patient prognosis (see review). Existing methods are very slow (culture) or lack sensitivity for some applications (antigen or antibody detection).
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is very quick (less than 2 hours from start to finish) and can be very sensitive and specific, providing a way to improve on many of the aformentioned problems. Myconostica are launching a new assay based on RT-PCR technology in an attempt to take advantage of this potential:

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FXG^TM: RESP (Asp +) – a new Real-Time PCR assay for the detection of Aspergillus spp. in clinical respiratory samples

FXG^TM: RESP (Asp +) is a rapid, molecular based assay for detecting the common respiratory fungal pathogens Aspergillus spp. (and Pneumocystis jirovecii) in human clinical respiratory specimens.

The kit is designed for use by qualified laboratory professionals; its results assist physicians to arrive at the correct diagnosis in immunocompromised adult patients suspected of having a life-threatening respiratory infection. Myconostica’s kit offers increased sensitivity, specificity and speed of diagnosis, all of which are key factors critical to improving patient survival rates.

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There are two other kits on the market in the EU, both of which can also be found in the EU Approved Kits part of the Diagnosis section.