Abacus Diagnostica Oy, Turku, Finland, has received a CE mark for the company’s GenomEra Norovirus test, billed as the world’s fastest molecular test for the detection and differentiation of norovirus genogroups I and II. The new test runs on the company’s fast, cost-effective, and automated GenomEra CDX platform.
The GenomEra CDX system from Abacus Diagnostica.
Access to appropriate diagnostics plays a key role in preventing norovirus infections, as there are no vaccines or preventive medicines available. The virus’s low infectious dose, short incubation period, and environmental persistence makes norovirus extremely contagious. Norovirus outbreaks lead easily to ward, school, or restaurant closures. Globally, societal costs of norovirus infections are estimated to be $60.3 billion annually.1
Erno Sundberg, Abacus Diagnostica.
“Until recent years, norovirus diagnostics has been challenging and most of the cases are still diagnosed by clinical symptoms,” says Erno Sundberg, CEO of Abacus Diagnostica. “Molecular tests are the only in vitro diagnostic tests which can detect virtually all norovirus variants and are sensitive enough to detect all infections despite the severity. GenomEra enables adaptation of quick and reliable norovirus diagnostics also in places with limited resources, and is so easy that it can be used without any experience of molecular methods.
“Our team has once again done great work and as a result we are now proud to launch the first commercial molecular norovirus test directly from stool without RNA extraction,” adds Sundberg. “We have now successfully applied our proprietary chemistry for the detection of RNA viruses with one the most challenging tests to make. The product portfolio extension for other RNA viruses such as influenza is now a straightforward process.”
Abacus Diagnostica has also improved the availability of GenomEra products by signing new distribution agreements. The company reports that the most important agreement has been signed with UK-based Launch Diagnostics, a leading supplier of diagnostic solutions and innovations.
Veronique Petit, Launch Diagnostics.
“Launch Diagnostics Ltd is pleased to be partnering with Abacus Diagnostica to supply the GenomEra CDX instrument and norovirus kits in the UK, Ireland, France, and Benelux,” says Launch Diagnostics’ marketing director and directrice for France and Benelux, Veronique Petit. “Norovirus outbreaks are major concern—by the 8th of September, Public Health England has recorded 215 norovirus outbreaks during 2017, and which 93% of those has led to ward/bay closure. Such outbreaks can be crippling to hospitals, so rapid, reliable diagnosis with a test like the GenomEra Norovirus kit can dramatically improve patient care and save hospitals money.”
For more information, visit Abacus Diagnostica.
REFERENCE
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Bartsch SM, Lopman BA, Ozawa S, Hall AJ, Lee BY. Global economic burden of norovirus gastroenteritis. PLoS One. 2016;11(4):e0151219; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151219.
