bioMérieux Launches VIDAS® EBV, a New Test for the Diagnosis of Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) causes significant fatigue that can last for several months.
The new test is especially useful for doctors, since IM symptoms are similar to those of other diseases that are infectious (strep throat, toxoplasmosis, rubella, etc.) or non-infectious. VIDAS EBV helps to avoid the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Diagnosis also enables doctors to advise their patients on curtailing contact sports or avoiding alcohol and certain medications to prevent rare but serious complications.

Developed by bioMérieux, this new test, based on proprietary technology, comprises a panel of three markers1 that must be used together to detect specific antibodies and determine the stage of infection. The test was developed on the automated VIDAS system, widely recognized for its robustness and reliability. VIDAS EBV has received CE approval and provides rapid results in 40 minutes. It is a valuable addition to the tests already available on the VIDAS platform for the detection of toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infections, two diseases that cause the same symptoms as the Epstein-Barr virus.

“This is yet another example of bioMérieux R&D’s capacity for innovation,” said Stéphane Bancel, bioMérieux Chief Executive Officer. Infectious mononucleosis occurs frequently and requires accurate diagnosis. With 23,000 VIDAS and mini VIDAS systems installed in customer labs, this innovative test will be widely available to doctors throughout the world.”

Infectious mononucleosis primarily affects adolescents. According to the CDC2, over 40% of young people aged 10 to 19 have been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus is transmitted through saliva. After an incubation period of two to seven weeks, patients may be contagious for 18 months.
 

1. Testing for VCA IgM antibodies to detect recent infections, testing for VCA/EA IgG antibodies, and testing for EBNA IgG antibodies to detect past infections.
2. CDC: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
 

About VIDAS®

With nearly 26,000 VIDAS® and its compact version mini VIDAS systems (23,000 used for clinical applications and 3,000 for industrial applications), bioMérieux has the second largest installed base of any immunoassay system worldwide. These systems offer multi-parameter instruments using ELFA (Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay) technology, based on a ready-to-use single-sample test concept. The analyses may be run in a series or individually. Launched in 1992, the VIDAS product range has earned a reputation for quality and reliability. Today the VIDAS menu includes 91 clinical parameters covering a wide range of human pathologies: identification and quantification of bacteria, viruses and parasites, antibodies measuring the immunological response to an infection such as AIDS and different proteins circulating in the blood, markers for selected cardio-vascular diseases and certain cancers, inflammatory response and hormonal dysfunction. Part of the VIDAS menu covers emergency diagnostics, including the VIDAS® D-Dimer ExclusionTM test, the recognized reference test for the exclusion of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism diagnoses, and the VIDAS® B·R·A·H·M·S PCT test, for measuring procalcitonin levels, used for the early detection of severe bacterial infections (e.g. sepsis).