AUSTIN, Texas, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX) today announced that norovirus will be the fourth assay in the launch menu for its new sample-to-answer system, ARIES™. The assay is designed to test for both GI and GII genogroups in a single, easy-to-use cassette. The previously announced items in the five assay launch menu targeted for the ARIES system also include: Flu A&B/RSV, HSV 1&2, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Future menu items will be announced at a later date.
Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. In the United States, it causes 20 million illnesses and contributes to over 50,000 hospitalizations each year.1 Because the infective dose of norovirus particles is very low, it is extremely contagious and can spread quickly especially in enclosed environments such as hospital wards, long-term care facilities, schools, and cruise ships. Norovirus is transmitted directly from person to person and indirectly via contaminated water and food or by touching contaminated surfaces.
"Typically norovirus and C. difficile are the two most likely causes of hospital acquired diarrhea. The presence and burden of norovirus in the hospital and other healthcare settings are often underappreciated," said Dr. Simon Goldenberg, Consultant Microbiologist and Infection Control Doctor, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital. "Routine, rapid testing for norovirus as a frequent causative pathogen of hospital acquired diarrhea is essential in order to prevent outbreaks and hospital ward closures while reducing cost."
"Norovirus can be a very serious illness especially for the very young, the elderly and those that are immunocompromised," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and chief executive officer of Luminex. "Because our new ARIES assays are being developed with a universal protocol, allowing laboratories to quickly run C. diff and norovirus at the same time, more rapid patient management techniques can be implemented to stem potentially costly outbreak situations and improve patient care."
With a strong track record as an innovator and as a leader in molecular diagnostics, Luminex Corporation was the first company to commercialize an FDA cleared norovirus test as a part of its comprehensive syndromic xTAG® Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP). Luminex Corporation will soon be the first company to offer multiplexed molecular panels such as GPP as well as rapid, sample-to-answer testing with the introduction of its new ARIES system and menu of assays. This combination will provide hospital labs and their clinicians with the most comprehensive suite of tools available to help manage patients with diarrheal disease.
Luminex will feature its new ARIES System at the Clinical Virology Symposium (CVS), April 27–30 in Daytona Beach, FL, Booth #209. Additionally, during CVS they will host a workshop on Monday, April 28th from 2:45pm - 4:15pm EST, demonstrating the value of xTAG GPP for community-acquired diarrhea, and the burden of norovirus in the hospital setting.
For more information on Luminex products, please visit our website at www.luminexcorp.com.
About Norovirus
Noroviruses are a genetically diverse group of single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses belonging to the Caliciviridae family. Infection with these viruses causes gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This leads to stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most noroviruses that infect humans belong to genogroups GI and GII.2
About Luminex Corporation
Luminex is committed to applying its passion for innovation toward creating breakthrough solutions to improve health and advance science. The company is transforming global healthcare and life-science research through the development, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary instruments and assays utilizing xMAP® open-architecture multi-analyte platform, MultiCode® real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and multiplex PCR-based technologies, that deliver cost-effective rapid results to clinicians and researchers. Luminex's technology is commercially available worldwide and in use in leading clinical laboratories, as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic, biotechnology and life-science companies. Luminex is meeting the needs of customers in markets as diverse as clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical drug discovery, biomedical research including genomic and proteomic research, personalized medicine, biodefense research and food safety. For further information on Luminex Corporation and the latest advances in multiplexing using award winning technology, please visit http://www.luminexcorp.com/.
References:
1) http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/overview.html
2) Department of Health and Aging Norovirus laboratory case definition
Contacts:
Luminex Investor Contact
Harriss Currie, 512.219.8020
Sr. Vice President of Finance and CFO
hcurrie@luminexcorp.com
Luminex Media Contact
Mimi Torrington, 512.219.8020
Director of Marketing Communications
mtorrington@luminexcorp.com
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SOURCE Luminex Corporation
