Abbott shows new pathogen detector
Illinois-based pharmaceutical company Abbott unveiled a new assay system that can accurately detect seventeen different bio-threat pathogens; among different bio-agents targeted in the new test are Bacillus anthracis, E. coli, salmonella, Ebola virus, and avian influenza viruses; the company says the new method provides results in less than eight hours
A new assay system that can accurately detect seventeen different bio-threat pathogens has been introduced by Abbott, an Illinois pharmaceutical company.
“While public health officials concerned with bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases are detecting known, conventional infectious agents, it’s becoming very clear there is a need for broader detection and characterization of pathogens for bio-defense,” said David Ecker, divisional vice president and general manager, of Abbott’s Ibis Biosciences subsidiary.
“The PLEX-ID system’s new bio-threat assay will serve that need by identifying and quantifying, for non-diagnostic purposes, a broad set of pathogens including bacteria and families of viruses in humans and animals.”
UPI reports that Abbott unveiled its PLEX-ID system at the American Society for Microbiology Conference on Biodefense and Emerging Diseases in Washington, D.C.
The company said the PLEX-ID Biothreat Assay permits analysis of direct specimens, such as blood, water, food, and air filter samples, and provides results in less than eight hours. Among different bio-agents targeted in the new test are Bacillus anthracis, E. coli, salmonella, Ebola virus, and avian influenza viruses.
