DiaSorin Molecular LLC, Cypress, Calif, has received CE marking for its Simplexa VZV direct assay. The new molecular diagnostic enables the direct detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The assay was designed for use on the Liaison MDX instrument and will be able to run alongside the company’s Simplexa HSV 1 & 2 direct assay, generating comprehensive and actionable insight for patients with suspected infections of the central nervous system (CNS).

VZV causes varicella (chickenpox), a highly communicable disease that is usually contracted in early childhood. Chickenpox is typically a mild disease, but can cause complications and, in rare instances, death. After initial infection, VZV becomes latent in sensory nerve ganglia. Reactivation occurs with increased age or immunosuppression and causes herpes zoster (shingles), a painful condition associated with complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia and CNS infections.

Tabb

Michelle Tabb, PhD, DiaSorin Molecular.

Although several vaccines against VZV have been available since the 1990s, recommendations and implementation vary by country. It is estimated that more than 90% of the population will acquire the disease by the age of 15, and each of these persons is at risk for developing encephalitis caused by VZV.

“Our VZV assay delivers answers in about an hour, features an easy workflow with minimal hands-on time, and does not require upfront extraction,” says Michelle Tabb, chief scientific officer at DiaSorin Molecular. “The assay is fast, giving the physician the targeted answers he or she is looking for in a timely manner.”

For further information, visit DiaSorin Molecular.