Molecular Test Detects Sepsis Earlier

A single automated test provides fast genus and species level detection for a broad panel of clinically significant Gram-positive bacteria.

The test also detects several crucial markers for antimicrobial resistance, including the genes, which confer resistance to the antibiotics methicillin/oxacillin and vancomycin, and rapid detection of these antimicrobial resistance markers provides vital information for clinicians to determine the best treatment for bloodstream infections.

The first-ever diagnostic tool for detecting disease-causing bacteria while simultaneously determining antibiotic resistance is known as the Verigene Gram-positive Blood Culture Nucleic Acid Test (BC-GP). It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Silver Springs, MD, USA). The BC-GP test provides identification of bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes from Gram-positive blood culture bottles within two and a half hours, as compared with current microbiological methods, which can take up to two to three days.

The sample-to-result BC-GP test automates the steps of bacterial DNA extraction and target detection on the Verigene System, which is produced by Nanosphere (Northbrook, IL, USA). The ease-of-use and fast turnaround time of the BC-GP test allow hospitals of any size to benefit from the speed and accuracy of automated molecular testing. In addition to its Gram-positive blood culture test, Nanosphere is currently developing a test for Gram-negative blood cultures that will provide genus, species, and resistance detection on the same automated platform.

William Moffitt, BS, president and CEO of Nanosphere, said, "The test works by mapping the genome of a particular bacterium and capturing it on a glass slide. If that bacterium is present in the blood sample, it will bind to the material on the slide. Then the test uses silver-coated gold nanoparticles to bind to the captured genetic sequence. When light is shined on the slide, if the spots light up, it means the bug is present in the sample."

Related Links:
US Food and Drug Administration
Nanosphere