Meretek Diagnostics Says Non-Invasive Urea Breath Test Gains As Recommended Test

LAFAYETTE, Colo., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Meretek Diagnostics, manufacturer of the BreathTek(TM) UBT kit for the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), said that health insurance carriers are beginning to recognize the importance of the changes in guidelines for the management of dyspepsia and move toward tests for active infection such as the Meretek BreathTek(TM) UBT (urea breath test).

In November 2005, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) updated its position statement on the evaluation of dyspepsia to recommend testing in patients 55 years of age or younger without alarm symptoms with an active test such as the 13C-urea breath test or stool antigen test.(1)

"In terms of accuracy and ease-of-use, the test just makes a lot of sense for healthcare professionals and insurance carriers," said David Walton, Vice President for Sales. "The UBT is extremely patient friendly and widely available to aid in initial diagnosis and to confirm eradication following treatment."

BreathTek(TM) UBT is a simple, non-radioactive, non-invasive, 95 percent sensitive and specific solution to diagnose and monitor treatment of active H. pylori infection. Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is infected with H. pylori.(2) One in ten Americans may develop a peptic ulcer over their lifetime. 80 to 90 percent of peptic ulcers are caused by an H. pylori infection.(3)

The test is CLIA non-regulated, covered by Medicare and most major insurance carriers.

Meretek products also include the UBiT(R)-IR300 infrared spectrophotometer and the POCone(TM) infrared spectrophotometer instruments which are used to analyze the patient's breath samples.

Qualified reference laboratories authorized by Meretek to perform the BreathTek(TM) UBT include Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp. For a complete listing of features and benefits of the BreathTek(TM) UBT, visit www.meretek.com/physician_testing.asp.

(1) American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: Evaluation of Dyspepsia. Gastroenterology, November 2005:129;5.

(2) Graham KS, Graham DY. Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of H. Pylori-Associated Gastrointestinal Diseases. Newtown, PA: Handbooks in Health Care Co; 2002.

(3) Centers for Disease Control Website. Helicobacter pylori, Infections. (H. Pylori) resource page. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/md.htm.

About Meretek Diagnostics

Located in Lafayette, Colo., Meretek Diagnostics Inc. is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, a healthcare company engaged in the development of advanced, non-invasive, non-radioactive breath tests and instrumentation. Meretek was founded in 1993 by a group from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The company holds exclusive licenses to patents involving the 13C urea breath test technologies, and all of the their products are approved by the FDA.

For more information about Meretek Diagnostics, Inc. and the company's products, including prescribing information, warnings and limitations, visit the Meretek Web site at www.meretek.com.

CONTACT: Dan Snyders, ext. 230, dan@armadamedical.com, or Jennifer Hanson,ext. 239, jenniferh@armadamedical.com, both of Armada Medical Marketing,+1-303-623-1190, for Meretek Diagnostics

Web site: http://www.meretek.com/