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Spectral Presents Data on West Nile Virus Rapid 1 Assay at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Meeting
Spectral Presents Data on West Nile Virus Rapid 1 Assay at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Meeting.
About this update from Spectral Medical Inc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nTORONTO, July 24 /CNW/ - Spectral Diagnostics Inc. (SDI: TSX) today\nreported key advances that contributed to the development of Spectral's novel\nrapid diagnostic test for West Nile Virus. The data is being presented at the\nAACC 2006 annual meeting in Chicago, July 23 to July 27. The AACC is the\nlargest meeting in the world for the business of laboratory medicine. Spectral\nis making a total of four scientific presentations, demonstrating its leading\nwork in the area of rapid and accurate detection of West Nile Virus infection.\n\n\"Spectral scientists are presenting key advances showing our strength in\nassay development,\" stated Dr. Paul Walker, President and CEO. \"These include\ndevelopment of the necessary recombinant proteins, antibody purification, and\nsensitivity and specificity of this assay. Spectral is filing for patents\nrelating to its leading work in this area,\" he added.\n\nSpectral's West Nile Virus Rapid 1 assay is the first test designed to\nprovide rapid results in less than one hour to clinicians assessing and\ntreating individual patients in the acute setting. This also makes it useful\nfor public health personnel in the early detection of outbreaks. The test has\nregulatory approval and is commercially available in Canada. Spectral is\nactively engaged in the regulatory process for other major markets.\n\nWest Nile Virus infection is a mosquito borne illness that is believed to\nhave infected tens of thousands of patients in North America since its\nemergence in the last several years. Many patients with West Nile Virus\ninfection will be unaware of it, or may have non-specific symptoms of fever,\nheadache, malaise, or other flu-like symptoms that are difficult for\nphysicians to diagnose. Current testing practices may take up to two weeks to\nprovide clinical results. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control,\nabout 1 in 150 patients infected with WNV will develop a serious infection\nsuch as encephalitis or meningitis, which can result in paralysis or even\ndeath. Already this year (2006) in both Canada and the United States there\nhave been reported cases of West Nile Virus infection and associated deaths.\n\nSpectral is a developer of innovative technologies for comprehensive\ndisease management. Spectral provides accurate and timely information to\nclinicians enabling the ear...