LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Myconostica, a UK-based medical diagnostic company which specialises in rapid and highly specific tests for life-threatening fungal infections, today announces the launch of a new test to assist medical and scientific professionals identify the two most common causes of fungal pneumonia. The assay, FXGTM: RESP (Asp +), uses Real-Time PCR technology to accurately and rapidly identify infections caused by both Aspergillus and Pneumocystis.
Key Points:
- Fungal pneumonia is the leading cause of infectious death in leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients and is the most common first manifestation of AIDS.
- FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) can identify Aspergillus and Pneumocystis within 4 hours, which account for over 95% of cases of fungal pneumonia.
- Diagnosis followed by antifungal treatment within the first 10 days of infection reduces the mortality rate from 90% to 40%.
FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) is a sensitive and specific assay designed to aid healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of fungal pneumonia. Traditional methods used to identify fungal pneumonia infections are well-documented as being inaccurate, insensitive and slow, with a result typically taking 2 to 3 days. Combining Real-Time PCR technology with Myconostica's fungal DNA extraction system, MycXtraTM, FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) provides a rapid, sensitive and specific alternative to the traditional techniques used to identify Aspergillus and Pneumocystis infection.
FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) is the first in a pipeline of products from Myconostica designed to assist in the diagnosis of fungal disease. Further tests in the FXGTM series will also target critical fungal infections, such as Candida, which cause sepsis and bloodstream infections.
Commenting on the launch of FXGTM: RESP (Asp +), Professor David Denning of the University of Manchester, Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Myconostica said:
"Early diagnosis of invasive fungal infection significantly improves the chances of survival. This new test from Myconostica will allow healthcare professionals to rapidly identify those patients infected by Aspergillus or Pneumocystis thus enabling clinicians to prescribe appropriate drugs to treat the infection. Early identification of disease reduces the patient's exposure to inappropriate drug treatments, improves patient outcomes and reduces the hospitalisation and treatment costs associated with invasive fungal disease."
For further information: Myconostica Ltd., Dr. Francesca Sadler, Sales and Marketing Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager, Tel: +44-161-998-7239, mycoinfo@myconostica.co.uk; Media Enquiries: Cardew Group, Tim Robertson/ Jamie Milton/ Matthew Law, +44(0)20-7930-0777
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