A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

Luminex (Austin, Texas) said it has received clearance from Health Canada for its xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP).

The company calls xTAG RVP "a unique, groundbreaking test that, from one patient sample, simultaneously detects the 18 respiratory viruses and subtypes that are responsible for the majority of respiratory viral infections."

Luminex noted that as many as 80% of respiratory infections are caused by viruses, "yet these viruses are rarely tested for because the appropriate tests do not exist, are not specific or accurate enough, or are too slow to positively impact patient treatment."

The 18 viruses and subtypes that can be detected by xTAG RVP include influenza; rhinovirus, which causes the common cold; and metapneumovirus, a new virus that Luminex said is a growing cause of respiratory infection in small children.

"The test has the potential to improve patient care, reduce healthcare costs and prevent the inappropriate antibiotic use that has contributed to the creation of 'superbugs,'" the company said in a statement.

"With this insight, we can track and contain virus outbreaks more effectively. This test has great public health value," said Dr. Julie Fox, of Provincial Laboratory for Public Health (Calgary, Alberta).

"xTAG RVP is a significant advance over traditional virus testing and has the potential to change the way respiratory viruses are diagnosed and monitored in Canada," said Dr. James Mahony, director of the Regional Virology Laboratory at St. Joseph's Healthcare and professor of pathology & molecular medicine at McMaster University (Hamilton Ontario), who was instrumental in the development of xTAG RVP.

"Because it quickly and simultaneously detects the presence or absence of 18 different virus types and subtypes, xTAG RVP allows physicians to diagnose an infection and make appropriate management decisions," he said. "It can detect viruses that cannot be detected with conventional tests and can accurately diagnose patients infected with multiple respiratory viruses."

xTAG RVP was created by Luminex Molecular Diagnostics (LMD; Toronto), in partnership with a team of leading virologists and infectious disease specialists, including Mahony.

LMD, formerly named Tm Bioscience, was acquired by Luminex in March 2007.

Chinese firm buys HPV test system

China Medical Technologies (Beijing) said last week that it bought the rights to a human papillomavirus (HPV) detection system from Molecular Diagnostic Technologies for $345 million.

The company said it would pay for the HPV-DNA Biosensor Chip and Surface Plasmon Resonance based Analysis System over the next year. It said it expects the deal to close in December or January.

The DNA chip is able to genetically identify 24 common strains of HPV, including strains that can cause cervical cancer and others that cause genital warts.

The Molecular Diagnostic Technologies system analyzes the data on the DNA chip, and is used in molecular diagnostics to identify proteins and ailments including infectious diseases, cancers and heart and immune system disorders.

China Medical Technologies said about 50 million HPV-related gynecological tests are done in China every year, and about 120 million women should receive cervical cancer tests. It said that revenue from the HPV-DNA Biosensor Chip could reach $700 million annually.

Sunquest, Mylab in partnership

Sunquest Information Systems (Tucson, Arizona), a developer of diagnostic information systems, said it has entered into a development partnership with Mylab (Tampere, Finland) to develop solutions for the advanced diagnostic information systems market.

"Mylab has over 30 years experience developing, delivering, and supporting laboratory information systems in Northern Europe and are leaders in their market," said Richard Atkin, president/CEO of Sunquest. "Our partnership represents an important step toward developing advanced, easy to use solutions that operate across the continuum of care."

"Mylab is [pleased] to partner with Sunquest to collaboratively develop cutting-edge solutions for future technologies," said CEO Esa Soini. "We look forward to building ... relationship that will combine our technologies and expertise with Sunquest's strong brand name, product portfolio, and operational excellence."

Mylab claims a nearly 80% market share in the Finnish laboratory information services sector, having deployed more than 40 clinical laboratory information systems in that country.

Sunquest says it has placed data management solutions in more than 1,200 hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide. Its professional services division provides an array of management and technical tools, including lab redesign and optimization, outreach and lab network program development, and operational business and implementation plans.