Myconostica Launches a New Test for the Rapid Identification of Fungal Pneumonia

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Myconostica Launches a New Test for the Rapid Identification of

Fungal Pneumonia

PR Newswire UK (press release) - London,UK*

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=236122

LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Myconostica, a UK-based medical

diagnostic company which specialises in rapid and highly specific

tests for life-threatening fungal infections, today announces the

launch of a new test to assist medical and scientific professionals

identify the two most common causes of fungal pneumonia. The assay,

FXGTM: RESP (Asp +), uses Real-Time PCR technology to accurately and

rapidly identify infections caused by both Aspergillus and

Pneumocystis.

Key Points:

- Fungal pneumonia is the leading cause of infectious death in

leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients and is the most common

first manifestation of AIDS.

- FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) can identify Aspergillus and Pneumocystis

within 4 hours, which account for over 95% of cases of fungal

pneumonia.

- Diagnosis followed by antifungal treatment within the first 10

days of infection reduces the mortality rate from 90% to 40%.

FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) is a sensitive and specific assay designed to

aid healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment

of fungal pneumonia. Traditional methods used to identify fungal

pneumonia infections are well-documented as being inaccurate,

insensitive and slow, with a result typically taking 2 to 3 days.

Combining Real-Time PCR technology with Myconostica's fungal DNA

extraction system, MycXtraTM, FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) provides a rapid,

sensitive and specific alternative to the traditional techniques

used to identify Aspergillus and Pneumocystis infection.

FXGTM: RESP (Asp +) is the first in a pipeline of products from

Myconostica designed to assist in the diagnosis of fungal disease.

Further tests in the FXGTM series will also target critical fungal

infections, such as Candida, which cause sepsis and bloodstream

infections.

Commenting on the launch of FXGTM: RESP (Asp +), Professor

Denning of the University of Manchester, Chairman and Chief Medical

Officer of Myconostica said:

" Early diagnosis of invasive fungal infection significantly improves

the chances of survival. This new test from Myconostica will allow

healthcare professionals to rapidly identify those patients infected

by Aspergillus or Pneumocystis thus enabling clinicians to prescribe

appropriate drugs to treat the infection. Early identification of

disease reduces the patient's exposure to inappropriate drug

treatments, improves patient outcomes and reduces the

hospitalisation and treatment costs associated with invasive fungal

disease. "

http://www.myconostica.co.uk