DES PLAINES, Illinois, January 17 /PRNewswire/ --
- Highly Sensitive Assay Detects Mutant Strain First Identified Last Year in Sweden
Working in collaboration with leading international researchers in the area of sexually transmitted disease, Abbott has developed a newly formulated molecular test capable of detecting a new variant strain of Chlamydia trachomatis found in one in five chlamydia cases in Sweden.
The assay, which is intended to be performed on the automated Abbott m2000 real-time PCR clinical diagnostic system, has received CE Mark certification in the European Union.
According to the WHO, more than 85 million cases of chlamydia occur worldwide every year, and last month the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported that more than one million chlamydia cases were transmitted in the United States in 2006, a new record for any sexually transmitted disease.
Despite the significant global prevalence of chlamydia, however, reports from the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control last year showed an unusual trend -- a marked decrease in transmission of the infection in that country.
"We observed a 25 percent decrease in chlamydia genital infections in 2006, but were unaware of new preventive programs or other initiatives that could have caused such a drop," said Torvald Ripa, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, Hospital of Halmstad, Sweden. "So there was great suspicion that a variant strain of the bacterium was at play, hampering our ability to detect all the infections and causing a lot of false-negative results," he said.
Subsequent investigation by Ripa and colleagues confirmed the existence and transmission of a variant chlamydia strain that was eluding detection by leading molecular diagnostic systems used to test some 500,000 Swedes annually. He published his findings in May 2007 in Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The variant type of chlamydia was believed to escape detection because it contains a deletion in the target region of some diagnostic assays.
Through a special regulatory exemption by the Swedish Medical Products Agency, certain sites in Sweden have been using the Abbott RealTime CT investigational assay for chlamydia screening. Now, with CE Mark certification, laboratories in all European Union nations will have access to the test. Even though wide incidence of the mutant strain has been limited to Sweden, Ripa said isolated cases have been reported in Norway, Denmark, Ireland and France. International travel is expected to carry the variant strain to other countries eventually.
"New tests were needed to target additional parts of the chlamydia bacteria, and Abbott responded fast to our request for research test kits that would pick up the variant strain," Ripa said. "By March 2007, we were double testing some 1,200 samples with the new research kit and current assays and concluded that the new research test had the ability to detect the mutant." Abbott then moved quickly to complete development of the assay and submit it for CE mark certification.
According to Ripa, surveillance showed that the mutant strain was responsible for 22 percent of Swedish chlamydia infections and posed a serious public health problem. Undetected, untreated chlamydia can lead to pain and pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility in women. A significant percent of women and men who are infected with chlamydia don't have symptoms. An infected person can transmit the disease anytime, including to a newborn, whether or not symptoms are present. Fortunately, chlamydia infections may be treated with antibiotics.
Ripa noted the Swedish experience shows all countries must be vigilant in monitoring local incidence of chlamydia. "It is a reminder of how clever these microbes are," he said.
The new Abbott RealTime chlamydia test will be offered in Europe by Abbott as part of its alliance with Celera. Offered along with the tests will be the Abbott multi-Collect Specimen Collection Kit, a unique sampling device for collection and room-temperature transportation of urine samples and male urethral, endocervical and vaginal swab specimens.
Other tests available on the Abbott m2000 system in Europe include real-time PCR tests for HIV-1, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B viral load. Additional tests are in development for the system.
About Abbott RealTime CT
Abbott's RealTime Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) assay is an in vitro assay for the direct, qualitative detection of the plasmid DNA for C. trachomatis in female endocervical or vaginal swab specimens, male urethral specimens, or in male or female urine specimens. The assay is designed for use on Abbott's automated molecular diagnostics system, the m2000, which utilizes real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for detecting and monitoring infectious diseases and is designed to provide clinical laboratories a unique system that fully automates all of the complex and heavily manual steps often associated with molecular diagnostics. Real-time PCR technology enables test users to produce large quantities of DNA from very small samples in a short period of time.
About Abbott Molecular
Abbott Molecular is an emerging leader in molecular diagnostics -- the analysis of DNA, RNA, and proteins at the molecular level. Abbott Molecular's instruments and reagents detect pathogens and subtle, but key changes in patients' genes and chromosomes, which permit earlier diagnoses, the selection of appropriate therapies and improved monitoring of disease progression.
About Abbott
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com.
Web site: http://www.abbott.com
media, Don Braakman, +1-847-937-0080, or financial, Tina Ventura, +1-847-935-9390, both of Abbott
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