Abaxis, Inc., a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care instruments and consumables for the medical, research, and veterinary markets worldwide and providing reference lab services to the veterinary and research markets in the United States, today announced that the Center for Veterinary Biologicals of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cleared its VetScan Anaplasma Rapid Test Kit for the detection of A. phagocytophelium and A. platys in canine whole blood, serum, or plasma samples.
Clint Severson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Abaxis, said, "The USDA approval of the VetScan Anaplasma rapid test signifies the completion of the first phase of our vector borne disease rapid tests for dogs. Combining this test with the geographically relevant test for Lyme, Ehrlichia, or Heartworm allows the Veterinarian to choose the most appropriate diagnostic tests for their patients while saving both the practice and pet owner significant money. Abaxis will continue to develop cost-effective and relevant rapid tests to aid the veterinarian in diagnosing disease in their patients."
Dr. Rajesh Mehra, director of research and development at Abaxis, said, "The approval of our VetScan Anaplasma Rapid Test Kit allows us to now offer a complete assessment of tick-borne diseases based on our unique blend of novel peptides which are reactive with species-specific antibodies, coupled with targeted amplification on a rapid test format."
Anaplasmosis is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It was previously known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) and has more recently been called human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Anaplasmosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites primarily from the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Of the four distinct phases in the tick life-cycle (egg, larvae, nymph, adult), nymphal and adult ticks are most frequently associated with transmission of anaplasmosis to humans. Typical symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Usually, these symptoms occur within 1-2 weeks of a tick bite. Anaplasmosis is initially diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical presentation, and later confirmed by the use of specialized laboratory tests.
Clint Severson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Abaxis, said, "The USDA approval of the VetScan Anaplasma rapid test signifies the completion of the first phase of our vector borne disease rapid tests for dogs. Combining this test with the geographically relevant test for Lyme, Ehrlichia, or Heartworm allows the Veterinarian to choose the most appropriate diagnostic tests for their patients while saving both the practice and pet owner significant money. Abaxis will continue to develop cost-effective and relevant rapid tests to aid the veterinarian in diagnosing disease in their patients."
Dr. Rajesh Mehra, director of research and development at Abaxis, said, "The approval of our VetScan Anaplasma Rapid Test Kit allows us to now offer a complete assessment of tick-borne diseases based on our unique blend of novel peptides which are reactive with species-specific antibodies, coupled with targeted amplification on a rapid test format."
Anaplasmosis is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It was previously known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) and has more recently been called human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Anaplasmosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites primarily from the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Of the four distinct phases in the tick life-cycle (egg, larvae, nymph, adult), nymphal and adult ticks are most frequently associated with transmission of anaplasmosis to humans. Typical symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Usually, these symptoms occur within 1-2 weeks of a tick bite. Anaplasmosis is initially diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical presentation, and later confirmed by the use of specialized laboratory tests.