Bacterial Meningitis - Deadly Disease has a New Rapid Diagnostic Test.Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K PORTLAND, Maine--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 17, 2001 Bacterial meningitis bacterial meningitis Acute bacterial meningitis Neurology Meningeal inflammation caused by bacteria which, if untreated, is often fatal, or associated with significant sequelae Epidemiology 60% are community-acquired–CM, 40% nosocomial–NM Predisposing , if not diagnosed and treated early, can lead to disabilities or death. Viral meningitis is serious, however rarely fatal. According to the Center for Diseases Control, the leading causes of bacterial meningitis are Streptococcus pneumoniae Streptococcus pneu·mo·ni·ae n. Pneumococcus. Streptococcus pneumoniae Microbiology A pathogenic streptococcus with 90 serotypes associated with pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis Transmission Person to person Incidence and Neisseria meningitides. Determining whether a patient has viral or bacterial meningitis can be a challenge. Both infections are contagious and clinical symptoms are similar (headache, stiff neck, fever and general malaise) in patients over the age of 2. In younger patients, these symptoms may be difficult to detect. However the consequences to patients of a viral or bacterial infection can be significantly different. Binax, Inc. announces today, an additional FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. cleared application for the patented NOW(R) Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen Test. The test can be used on cerebral spinal fluid spinal fluid n. See cerebrospinal fluid. (CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis Definition Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a laboratory test to examine a sample of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. ) for the detection of bacterial meningitis caused by S. pneumoniae. The diagnosis and treatment of viral or bacterial meningitis requires patient input, clinical assessment and reliable accurate diagnostic tests. The accuracy of the NOW(R) Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen Test significantly exceeds that of other rapid technologies, such as the latex agglutination test latex agglutination test n. A passive agglutination test in which antigen is adsorbed onto latex particles. latex agglutination test . The Binax NOW(R) S. pneumoniae Antigen Test is a highly accurate, easy to use, rapid (15 minute) platform. "The addition of this new application on a well established technology platform, reaffirms Binax's commitment to manufacture and market superior rapid diagnostics to the medical industry", states Kelly Cullum, President and Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. of Binax. Binax recently announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Remel, Inc. (Lenexa, KS) to provide rapid tests to hospital and clinical reference laboratories in the United States. Available today through Remel are the NOW(R) Streptococcus pneumoniae Antigen Test and the Legionella Legionella /Le·gion·el·la/ (le?jah-nel´ah) a genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (family Legionellaceae), normal inhabitants of lakes, streams, and moist soil; they have often been isolated from cooling-tower water, Urinary Antigen Test. Binax, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets rapid diagnostic tests to further promote global health. For information about Binax and the family of products, please call (207) 772-3988 or info@binax.com. Remel, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of diagnostic testing supplies to customers in hospital, clinical, academic and research laboratories. For information on Remel, please call (800) 255-6730 or remel@remelinc.com. |
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