Oxoid IDEIA Viral Gastroenteritis Panel Allows Rapid Diagnosis Of Norovirus And Other Leading Causes Of Viral Gastroenteritis

Main Category: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 18 Jan 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Oxoid, a world leader in microbiology, has launched the IDEIA™ range of products for the rapid diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis. These rapid enzyme immunoassays can be used to detect the four leading causes of viral gastroenteritis: Norovirus, Rotavirus, Astrovirus and Adenovirus, in human stool samples.

There has recently been an increase in norovirus activity throughout Europe1,2, making the rapid detection of this virus of particular concern. Timely identification of the etiological agent combined with appropriate infection control procedures can help to reduce the impact of norovirus outbreaks on the institution involved3. IDEIA Norovirus allows norovirus to be detected in stool samples within just 2 hours.

Barbara Fallowfield, marketing manager, Oxoid (Ely) commented, "The sooner the cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks can be detected, the sooner infection control procedures can be put in place to stop the spread of disease and limit the damage. IDEIA Norovirus provides rapid and reliable results that are of enormous value to those involved in the investigation and prevention of norovirus outbreaks, including microbiology laboratories, infection control teams, surveillance teams and cruise ship operators."

Each IDEIA viral gastroenteritis kit follows the same standardised protocol and is suitable for manual or automated testing. The assays are quick and easy to perform, either individually or in a panel using a single sample dilution. Sensitive and specific results are read photometrically in less than 2 hours.

For further information about the IDEIA Viral Gastroenteritis Panel (IDEIA Norovirus, IDEIA Rotavirus, IDEIA Astrovirus (Amplified) or IDEIA Adenovirus),
visit http://www.oxoid.com.

Oxoid is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science.

References

1. Food-borne Viruses in Europe Network (FBVE), (2006) Eurosurveillance Weekly 11(12).
2. Takkinen, J. (2006) Eurosurveillance Weekly 11(6).
3. Lopman, B.A., Reaches, M.H., Vipond, I.B. et al (2004) Emerg. Infect. Dis. 10(10):1827-1834

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike.

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