Automated Molecular Test Detects Vancomycin Resistance Genes

An automated molecular test detects the vancomycin resistance genes vanA and vanB most commonly found in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in specimens from patients at risk for colonization or infection.

The automated nature of the IntelligentMDx (IMDx; Cambridge, MA, USA) IMDx VanR test for the Abbott (Abbott Park, IL, USA) m2000 instrument allows laboratories to obtain results for up to 48 patient samples in less than 3 hours, and up to 94 patient samples in less than 4 hours. The IMDx VanR for Abbott m2000 test exhibits high sensitivity and specificity when compared to traditional chromogenic agar methods, with values of 96.4% and 98.0%, respectively.

VRE are bacteria are responsible for a variety of healthcare-associated infections, including those of surgical wounds, urinary tract, and bloodstream. VRE are transmitted through contact and are most often seen in hospitals due to the high prevalence of contaminated surfaces and hand-to-hand contact. Detection of both the vanA and vanB genes allows for identification of a higher number of at-risk patients than existing tests that only target the vanA gene.

IntelligentMDx announced that the IMDx VanR, for the Abbott m2000 instrument has been given CE Marking. The other IMDx test recently introduced for the m2000 instrument was for Clostridium difficile.

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