WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Inverness Medical Innovations , a leading manufacturer and marketer of rapid diagnostic products for the consumer and professional markets, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Binax Inc., obtained 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new claim with the BinaxNOW(R) Influenza A & B Test. The BinaxNOW(R) Influenza A & B Test now includes avian influenza H5N1 isolates in its list of influenza strains.
Avian influenza, also commonly referred to as “Bird Flu,” is an infectious disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide.
The BinaxNOW(R) one-step, rapid influenza test is able to clearly differentiate between influenza A and influenza B in fifteen minutes. Use of this easy-to-read rapid test can help diagnose patients efficiently in the event that an influenza outbreak should occur. A confirmed diagnosis helps guide healthcare providers in the selection of appropriate treatments, such as administration of antiviral medication. Antivirals can reduce the severity of symptoms, shorten the duration of the illness, and reduce the time period when patients who are ill with influenza are infectious to others. These capabilities are particularly relevant when the window of opportunity to effectively implement antiviral therapy is only 48 hours from the onset of symptoms.
About Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc.
Inverness Medical Innovations is a leading global developer of in vitro diagnostic products and is presently exploring new opportunities for its lateral flow immunoassay and other proprietary technologies in a variety of professional diagnostic and consumer-oriented applications, including immunodiagnostics with a focus on cardiology, infectious disease and women’s health. Inverness’ new product development efforts, as well as its position as a leading supplier of consumer pregnancy and fertility/ovulation tests and rapid point-of-care diagnostics, are supported by the strength of its intellectual property portfolio. The Company is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
For more information about Inverness Medical Innovations, please visit our website at http://www.invernessmedical.com.
For more information about Binax and its NOW(R) brand of rapid in vitro diagnostic tests, please visit http://www.Binax.com.
Inverness Medical Innovations
CONTACT: Doug Guarino, Director of Corporate Relations for InvernessMedical Innovations, Inc., +1-781 647 3900
