Enteric Panel Distinguishes between Inflammatory and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The presence of fecal leukocytes enables IBS to be ruled out since it is a non-inflammatory condition.

Inverness Medical (Bedford, UK) announced the addition of the TechLab enteric panel to its global distribution portfolio. The three tests--IBD EZ Vue, IBD-Scan, and IBD-Chek--are intended to provide first lines of enquiry prior to follow-up with the current highly invasive colonoscopy. The announcement follows on from Inverness Medical's acquisition of a 49% stake in TechLab last year, which will also lead to new product development.

According to David Walton, vice president of international business at Inverness Medical, the three TechLab test formats have been designed to meet varying diagnostic needs at all stages of the disease, "IBD EZ Vue is a simple point-of-care test based on lateral flow technology that provides results in 10 minutes and can be used by physicians and nurses for frontline diagnosis. IBD-Chek on the other hand is a qualitative enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay [ELISA] for rapid elimination screening with a turnaround time of just 75 minutes. The IBD-Scan is a quantitative test that uses both liquid and solid fecal samples, and can also monitor therapy and predict relapse. The tests will be available through our international network and we hope they will make a significant contribution to improving patient diagnoses.”

Two other TechLab tests in Inverness Medical's enterics portfolio also offer new cost-effective solutions to long-standing problems. Leuko-Test is a rapid screen, based on lactoferrin detection, for discriminating between inflammatory and non-inflammatory diarrheas. Asca-Check detects human anti-Saccharomyces cerervisiae antibodies in feces, and can be used to differentiate Crohn's disease from other gastrointestinal illnesses.


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