CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (NASDAQ: VIVO) today announced, in conjunction with the Association for Molecular Pathology 2008 Annual Meeting now occurring in Grapevine, Texas, that it anticipates launching a simple, rapid new molecular test for the toxin-producing forms of the C. difficile bacteria in the second half of fiscal year 2009. This innovative molecular test is based upon Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) licensed by Meridian Bioscience from Eiken Chemicals, Ltd. (Japan) in 2006. Clostridium difficile is most common in hospitals and, recent hypervirulent forms of the bacteria have caused increased infection and mortality. C. difficile is carried in the gut of 3% of healthy humans but prevalence in hospital patients tends to be much higher. Elderly people in hospitals being treated with antibiotics are most at risk of developing infection.
