AdvanDx out of Woburn, MA is releasing to the European market its GNR Traffic Light PNA FISH test for detection of Gram-negative bacteria, namely E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. (PNA FISH is an abbreviation for peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization.) Results of the blood test are available in less than 90 minutes, which should allow physicians to decide on an antibiotic regimen soon after blood turns positive.
From the company’s PNA FISH technology page:
PNA FISH uses fluorescent-labeled PNA [peptide nucleic acid] probes in a highly sensitive and specific 2.5 hours fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay targeting the species-specific ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in microbes. Once a blood culture turns positive, a Gram stain is performed and based on the results the appropriate PNA FISH test is selected.
Following the Gram stain result, a drop from the positive blood culture is fixed onto a microscope slide. PNA probe is added and hybridizes to the rRNA within the target microbes (S. aureus, C. albicans, E. faecalis, other enterococci, etc.). Excess probe is removed during a stringent wash step and the slides are visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescing cells identify the target microbe while non-florescence indicates the presense of a different microbe in the blood culture.
Press release: AdvanDx Launches GNR Traffic Light™ PNA FISH® in Europe… (.pdf)
Related: AdvanDx Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for 90 Minutes Protocol for Yeast Traffic Light® PNA FISH®…
Technology page: PNA FISH…
(hat tip: MassDevice)