Health
CDC collaboration results in new test for anthrax
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 28, 2004
The Food and Drug Administration approved in June the first test to detect antibodies to anthrax. Development of the Anthrax Quick ELISA test was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but carried out by Immunetics, Inc., a Boston biotechnology company.
Those involved said this was an example of how public-private partnerships can lead to rapid development of tools that may help improve public health.
"We were honored to win the contract and to work collaboratively with the CDC on the development of the anthrax test," said Andrew Levin, PhD, company CEO. "The fact that we were able to move so quickly in development and validation of the test demonstrates how productive such a collaboration between government and industry can be, and we consider the FDA approval a major success for both sides."
The test is the first for anthrax that can be used by any laboratory or clinic without special equipment or training rather than just in a large government public health lab. The test also delivers results in an hour rather than the four needed for previous tests.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/28/hlbf0628.htm.
