Rapid MRSA detection is essential to prevention of hospital-acquired infections caused by the organism.
3M have acquired Acolyte Biomedica, a British clinical diagnostics firm. One of the assets acquired with Biomedica is a rapid MRSA test – BacLite Rapid, a test that promised to detect the presence of MRSA from clinical samples in less than 5 hours.
There are a number of molecular tests that can detect the presence of MRSA in approximately two hours, but 3M is promoting BacLite Rapid on the basis of its ability to distinguish between dead and live bacteria at competitive prices.
Traditionally, MRSA determinations were based on the laboratory’s ability to screen for MRSA through culture-based technologies that often required at least 48 hours before MRSA confirmation could be made. Culture-based technologies are labour intensive, time-consuming; whereas, molecular-based technologies offer rapid turn-around-times at a cost. Instrumentation is expensive as well as the reagents required for performing testing, and the need for skilled professionals to perform molecular testing.
MRSA colonization and infection are expensive in themselves to healthcare institutions – more affordable and rapid testing is necessary to detect colonized patients and isolate them from patients who are at risk of developing hospital-acquired MRSA infection.
Numerous manufacturers are cashing in on the paranoia surrounding MRSA – it will be interesting to see which products can deliver on their claims.
Further reading:
Staph and Methicillin Resistance
Source:
3M Expands its Medical Diagnostics Platform with Acquisition of Acolyte Biomedica Ltd.
