Abbott, Abbott Park, Ill, has launched in the United States its Verax Platelet PGD test, a first-generation, single-use, rapid qualitative immunoassay test that detects bacteria in human platelets.

Abbott signed an exclusive distribution agreement in 2006 with Verax Biomedical Inc, Worcester, Mass, for worldwide rights to market and distribute the test.

The test consists of a disposable device used to detect the presence of a broad range of bacterial contaminants in platelets prior to blood transfusion. It is used in quality control testing of leukocyte-reduced platelet units collected from blood donors, and to detect aerobes and anaerobes, which are bacteria that need oxygen for sustenance and those that do not.

Leukoreduction is the removal of white blood cells—leukocytes—from blood or blood components supplied for blood transfusion. The test supplements current quality control testing methods used by blood establishments following collection of platelets using an automated instrument, and is not intended for use in determining whether leukocyte-reduced platelets may be released for transfusion.

Culture testing methods can take up to three days to yield results. The Verax test, which targets antigens found on all species of bacteria known to be pathogenic to humans, is designed to provide results in less than 30 minutes.

The FDA granted Verax 510(k) clearance for the test system in September 2007.