Dr. Kevin Jones reports

MEDMIRA EXPANDS MULTIPLO PRODUCT RANGE WITH THREE NEW RAPID VERTICAL FLOW TESTS; NEW TESTS DELIVERING INSTANT, SIMULTANEOUS RESULTS FOR SYPHILIS, HIV, AND HEPATITIS C IN THREE DISTINCT COMBINATIONS TO DEBUT AT 2014 AACC ANNUAL MEETING

MedMira Inc. is expanding its Multiplo product line with the addition of three new multiplex tests that deliver instant, simultaneous, single-cartridge results for syphilis (Treponema pallidum), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis C. The new tests being added to the product range include Multiplo TP/nTP, which detects both active and historical syphilis infections, Multiplo TP/HIV/nTP and Multiplo TP/HIV/HCV, which simultaneously detects syphilis, HIV and hepatitis C.

The full Multiplo line is now available in international markets, with analysis of highly regulated markets, possibly including North America and Europe, under way. MedMira will showcase its full Multiplo line for the first time at the 2014 American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting and Clinical Lab Expo.

The new tests all deliver instant results for syphilis infection, a disease with an increasing global prevalence rate. Multiplo TP/nTP and Multiplo TP/HIV/nTP take testing a step further, providing comprehensive screening and confirmatory results for both present and past syphilis infections. Detecting the presence of both current and previous infections provides critical information to help health care providers in determining the right course of treatment for their patients.

"The creativity and innovation powered by our patented Rapid Vertical Flow Technology is limitless, and this expansion of our Multiplo product range is a prime example of how the technology enables new rapid tests to fast-track through discovery, design and development to meet customer demands," said Dr. Kevin Jones, senior director, sales and marketing, MedMira. "The WHO [World Health Organization] has identified syphilis as a serious global health care issue, and our Multiplo tests will prove invaluable in large-scale testing programs targeting multiple diseases, especially prenatal maternal initiatives. Multiplo TP/HIV is currently under evaluation as part of the WHO prequalification program, and we look forward to working with them to bring our newest Multiplo tests to screening programs around the world."

The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 12 million new cases of adult syphilis each year, with an additional 500,000 cases affecting infants through maternal transmission. It is the mission of WHO, and many other health care initiatives, to decrease transmission of HIV and syphilis from mothers to their children. With prenatal diagnosis using Multiplo rapid tests, at-risk pregnancies can be identified within two minutes, greatly reducing the risk of mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmission.

MedMira at AACC

MedMira will debut its expanded Multiplo product line at booth No. 2143 during the AACC event, taking place in Chicago from July 29 to 31. The company will also showcase its Multiplo TP/HIV and Multiplo HBc/HIV/HCV tests, which are slated for launch in the United States in 2015, as well as its Reveal single-marker, rapid HIV test and Miriad research tools.

MedMira also invites conference attendees to join it for the following presentations:

• OEM Lecture Series -- MedMira Rapid Vertical Flow Technology: An in-depth look at how RVF Technology works and how it can be used to produce multiplexed assays; Dr. Jones, senior director of sales and marketing; Wednesday, July 30, 2014, 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.;
• A Rapid and Effective Tool for Monitoring Monoclonal Antibody Production; poster No. A-325; Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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