BinaxNOW PBP2a test to detect PBP2a in MRSA

AdvanDx today announced that it will offer the BinaxNOW® PBP2a test from Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (Waltham, MA) to customers in the United States.  The test provides rapid detection of the penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) present in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) directly from S. aureus positive blood cultures.  In clinical studies, the test demonstrated 97.1% positive agreement and 100% negative agreement with conventional methods for detecting MRSA.  

A study published in 2007 found over 94,000 reported cases of invasive MRSA in 2005, including 18,650 deaths related to the infections.  Early detection of invasive infections due to MRSA is critical in efforts to decrease patient morbidity and mortality, reduce empiric use of vancomycin and permit cost-effective decisions for patient management. Conventional methods of susceptibility testing can take 24 hours, and mecA gene identification is expensive and time-consuming to perform.  

By combining rapid and accurate S. aureus identification from PNA FISH and reflexing to PBP2a detection in MRSA using BinaxNOW PBP2a, AdvanDx will offer a unique, cost-effective and easy-to-use solution that will enable laboratories to provide rapid, accurate results 24 hours sooner than with conventional methods.  This in turn will help physicians and pharmacists optimize antibiotic therapy and care for patients with S. aureus and MRSA bloodstream infections, while at the same time avoiding unnecessary therapy for patients with contaminated blood cultures.

"We are very excited to provide the BinaxNOW PBP2a test to our customers," said Thais T. Johansen, President and CEO of AdvanDx.  "The addition of the test to our product offering demonstrates our commitment to provide rapid, clinically relevant tools to help laboratories, physicians and pharmacists improve care and outcomes for patients with bloodstream infections."