ViraCor launches comprehensive testing for fungal infections

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ViraCor launches comprehensive testing for fungal infections

Lee's Summit Journal - Lee's Summit,MO*

http://www.lsjournal.com/100/story/19274.html

ViraCor Laboratories in Lee's Summit announced the launch of a

comprehensive mycology, or fungus, testing service that will quickly

detect potentially deadly fungal infections in patients. Fast

diagnosis of fungal infections can significantly improve patient

outcomes and prevent the overuse of costly, toxic antifungal

therapy, according to ViraCor information.

ViraCor is a specialty molecular diagnostic reference laboratory

that provides same day turnaround for laboratory tests.

As part of this new testing service, ViraCor is offering two tests -

Platelia Aspergillus EIA and Fungitell® ?-D Glucan - that

together provide the most comprehensive fungal infection testing

available, according to Viracor. Both tests have been cleared by the

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

" Fungal infections are emerging as a major cause of sickness and

death among transplant and immunocompromised patients, " said Steve

Kleiboeker, PhD and chief scientific officer of ViraCor

Laboratories. " Because these infections progress so rapidly, fast,

accurate diagnosis is critical to patient health. Currently,

physicians administer highly toxic antifungal therapy - which can be

expensive and dangerous - as a precautionary measure in many

patients because symptoms of fungal infections are so vague. With

fast turnaround of accurate test results from ViraCor, doctors have

the information they need to treat patients correctly, reducing the

inappropriate use of drugs, and ultimately saving lives. "

Platelia Aspergillus EIA, which will be marketed as Aspergillus

Galactomannan EIA by ViraCor, tests for Invasive Aspergillosis, one

of the most serious fungal infections. It has mortality rates

reaching 80 to 100 percent in adults and 75 percent in children with

compromised immune systems. Studies have shown that testing with

Aspergillus Galactomannan EIA can detect Aspergillus infection up to

10 days earlier than traditional testing methods such as cell

culture.

Fungitell Glucan is the only FDA — cleared test for Candida, a yeast

that can act as an opportunistic pathogen in patients with

compromised immune systems and lead to Invasive Candidiasis. In

addition to Candida, the test quickly and accurately detects nine

other pathogens:

- Acremonium

- Aspergillus

- Coccidioides immitis

- Fusarium

- Histoplasma capsulatum

- Pneumocystis jiroveci

- Saccharomyces cerevisiae

- Sporothrix schenckii

- Trichosporon

To achieve the most effective fungal infection monitoring and ensure

the most accurate diagnosis, ViraCor recommends that Aspergillus

Galactomannan EIA and Fungitell ?-D Glucan be used together. As

recommended by the manufacturers of the tests, high-risk patients

should be monitored two to three times per week.

" Many of the fungi in these tests can be found in nature and healthy

humans can breathe them in with very little risk of infection.

However, for patients with compromised immune systems, who cannot

readily fight disease, these fungi can be deadly, " said ,

president of ViraCor. " Since many of the doctors whom ViraCor serves

treat patients with compromised immune systems, fungal infection

testing is an important addition to our test menu. We are committed

to providing clinically relevant tests and unmatched turnaround time

to our customers so they can in turn provide better care to their

patients. This has been our mission since our founding and it is the

core of what we do. "