IntelligentMDx receives FDA clearance for IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay

Date: Nov-15-2013IntelligentMDx has announced that it has received FDA clearance for the IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay which detects nucleic acids encoding the toxin A gene and toxin B gene sequences of toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile in human liquid or soft stool specimens collected from patients suspected of having Clostridium difficile associated disease. This is the third test from IMDx to receive FDA clearance within three months for use on Abbott's fully-automated m2000 system and follows clearances of the IMDx VanR for Abbott m2000 and IMDx Flu A/B and RSV for Abbott m2000 assays.

C. difficile is the leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea and may cause more severe intestinal conditions such as pseudomembranous colitis. According to the CDC, C. difficile infection is linked to approximately 14,000 deaths in the United States annually.* Effective molecular diagnostic tests for early detection of C. difficile remain critical to help control the spread of infection and the threat of more serious complications.

Analytical reactivity studies demonstrated that the IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay is capable of detecting the 31 different toxigenic C. difficile strains that were tested. These strains represent the global diversity of C. difficile strains, including NAP1, and tcdB-variant strains, such as 1470.

"FDA clearance of the IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay comes at a pivotal time when incidence of C. difficile infection and severity in both hospital and community settings is increasing," says Dr. Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt, Chairman & CEO of IMDx. "Detection of a wide variety of C. difficile strains, including hypervirulent strains, by the IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay will help ensure that a high number of cases of C. difficile are detected in a timely manner, regardless of the source of infection."

The IMDx C. difficile for Abbott m2000 assay is part of a broad real-time PCR test menu designed, developed, and manufactured for use on Abbott's RealTime m2000 system under a multi-year distribution agreement with Abbott.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.