EAST FALMOUTH, Mass., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Associates of Cape Cod, Inc. (ACC), a leading manufacturer of endotoxin and beta-glucan detection products, today announced that the Fungitell(R) assay kit, for the measurement of (1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan, a fungal cell wall component, has been CE marked, which enables distribution in the European Union (EU). In addition, this important assay has been included in both the Infectious Disease Society of America's (IDSA) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of Aspergillosis, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(R) (NCCN) 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM), "Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections." The IDSA guidelines are published in the February 1st edition of the Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008; 46:327-60, and can be viewed at http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/cid/46/3. The NCCN guideline was published 1/16/08, and can be viewed at http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/infections.pdf. The revised European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Mycosis Study Group (EORTC-MSG) definitions will be appearing in the June 15, 2008 edition of Clinical Infections Diseases (Univ. of Chicago Press).
Fungitell(R) measures (1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan in patient serum and is sensitive to as little as a few trillionths of a gram. The assay is used for patients at risk of fungal infection, including immuno-compromised patients, such as transplant recipients or those with cancer. The kit can be used in hospital laboratories or patient samples can be tested at ACC's Beacon Diagnostics(R) Laboratory.
Dr. AJ Meuse, President and CEO of ACC, stated, "The CE mark opens the door for distribution in all EU member states. Since the introduction of Fungitell(R), we have had numerous inquiries and requests for the product from Europe. The value of the Fungitell(R) assay is recognized by physicians in the EU and we can now provide them with this invaluable aid in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections."
"The references to Fungitell(R) in the NCCN and IDSA's Guidelines are indicative of the increasing awareness of the potential benefit of early diagnosis of invasive fungal infections," said Dr. AJ Meuse. He further stated, "Early detection and treatment leads to better patient outcomes, shorter treatment regimens and may reduce the overall cost of treatment. Fungitell is an import aid to early diagnosis. The use of the Fungitell(R) assay has grown tremendously since its introduction in early 2005, and we are very optimistic that it will continue to be an integral part of the diagnosis and treatment of these critically ill patients. The EORTC-MSG definitions are looked to by the leading experts in mycotic diseases as key criteria for the standardization of diagnostic determinations of invasive fungal disease."
About Associates of Cape Cod, Inc.
Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., based in East Falmouth, MA, is a leader in the field of bacterial endotoxin and beta-glucan detection and a major supplier to the pharmaceutical, medical device and clinical diagnostic industries. A wholly owned subsidiary of Seikagaku BioBusiness Corporation, the Company pioneered the humane use of horseshoe crab blood extract, Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), used in the testing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biologics, for the presence of potentially toxic endotoxins and glucans. Our products are marketed throughout the world under the trade names Pyrotell(R), Glucatell(R), Pyrochrome(R) and Chromo-LAL. The Company offers contract testing for endotoxin and (1,3)-beta-D-glucan, and has a research biochemicals division, Northstar BioProducts(TM), specializing in carbohydrate chemistry. For more information about Associates of Cape Cod, Inc. and our products, please visit our websites at: www.acciusa.com and www.beacondiagnostics.com
SOURCE Associates of Cape Cod, Inc.
