3M Health Care launches new weapon in MRSA fight

3M Health Care has launched the first rapid culture-based test that can detect effectively and reliably the presence or absence of MRSA in high-risk patients within five hours.

The BacLite Rapid MRSA Test is aimed at hospitals fighting to stop the spread of the MRSA superbug and detects the bacteria direct from clinical specimens.

"The launch of this new test represents an important advance in the war against MRSA," explained Professor Dr Jan Kluytmans, consultant microbiologist, Amphia Hospital Breda/Oosterhout and VUmc Medical University Amsterdam. "One of the most significant things that we can do to reduce or even halt the spread of MRSA is to identify which patients are carriers, so that we can take appropriate action as early as possible. This test gives us the speed we need at a relatively low price."

The 3M BacLite Rapid MRSA Test will help clinicians quickly identify MRSA colonised patients so they can proactively manage carriers. A confirmed negative test result is available within five hours and a confirmed positive result in 24 hours. The improved speed of these results will mean that staff can act more quickly to identify at-risk patients, take action to control the spread of infection and thereby help prevent the increasing burden of hospital acquired infections.

Alternatives to 3M's BacLite Rapid MRSA Test include traditional culture-based screening, where clinicians must wait at least 48 hours for test results, or expensive molecular diagnostics. This is a very cost-effective option and the lowest cost MRSA test available that provides same-day results, according to 3M.

Early screening may assist in the management of infection control by reducing costs associated with isolating patients who are suspected of carrying MRSA until confirmatory test results can be obtained.

"The BacLite MRSA Test represents a revolutionary step in microbiology testing," said Steve O'Hara, director of microbiology with 3M Medical Diagnostics. "It is quick and simple to use due to its accelerated culture-based detection of micro-organisms direct from clinical specimen."

The test requires 45 minutes total hands-on time for 45 specimens, which helps the laboratory's efficiency and productivity. It is easy for healthcare facilities to implement, as it does not require a high level of expertise in the laboratory to run the test. It also has an objective endpoint, which means that the opportunity for error is reduced.