In response to the requests of many physicians, two Shigella organisms have been added to the DIATHERIX Gastrointestinal Panel. This addition increases the value of this diagnostic tool through its enhanced ability to detect and differentiate between many serious gastrointestinal pathogens.

Specifically, the two organisms being added are Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei. Together they are responsible for 93% of the cases of Shigella infections in the U.S. With the addition of these two pathogens, the total number of pathogens detected by the Gastrointestinal Panel is now eleven, including: Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium difficile Toxin B gene, Escherichia coli strain O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The panel uses the company's proprietary technology, which is target enriched multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Tem-PCR). Tem-PCR is the first diagnostic tool introduced to the clinical market that can identify multiple pathogens, detect co-infections and determine genetic drug resistance in a single result.