Testing Service Provides Fast Diagnosis of Fungal Infections

A molecular diagnostic reference laboratory has launched a comprehensive mycology testing service that will 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.

ViraCor Laboratories (Kansas City, MO, USA) has begun offering two tests--Platelia aspergillus enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Fungitell ß-D Glucan--that together provide the most comprehensive fungal infection testing available. Both tests have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD, USA).

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 80-100% in adults and 75% 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 ß-D Glucan is a 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, and Trichosporon.

"Fungal infections are emerging as a major cause of sickness and death among transplant and immunocompromised patients. Because these infections progress so rapidly, fast, accurate diagnosis is critical to patient health,” said Steve Kleiboeker, Ph.D., and CSO of ViraCor Laboratories. "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.”

Related Links:
ViraCor Laboratories
U.S. Food and Drug Administration