Murex Corp. on Tuesday announced that the FDA has givenmarketing approval to its Single Use Diagnostic System (SUDS)HIV-1 screening test.

The 10-minute test to detect antibodies to the virus is designedfor office use and other situations where microwell enzymeimmunoassays are not practical. The test mixes a small amountof the patient's plasma with an antibody capture reagent towhich only HIV-1 antibodies will attach.

The Norcross, Ga.-based company, a subsidiary of InternationalMurex Corp. of Toronto (AMEX:MXX), said the screening resultsstill should be confirmed by Western blot or other additionaltests.

Murex also manufactures SUDS tests for toxoplasmosis andrubella. It is also developing tests for simultaneous screening ofHIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, and for chlamydia, hepatitis,HTLV-I and HTLV-II.

International Murex stock lost 38 cents to $14.50.

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