Oxoid releases new IDEIA gastroenteritis tests

Oxoid has launched its range of IDEIA products for the rapid detection of viral gastroenteritis.

The enzyme immunoassays can be utilised to detect the four leading causes of the illness- norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus and adenovirus- in human stool samples.

The company stated that the norovirus activity in Europe and the moment has made the rapid detection of the condition a serious concern.

"Timely identification of the etiological agent combined with appropriate infection control procedures can help to reduce the impact of norovirus outbreaks on the institution involved," it continued.

The IDEIA norovirus test allows the disease to be detected in stools within just two hours.

Barbara Fallowfield, marketing manager, Oxoid commented, "The sooner the cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks can be detected, the sooner infection control procedures can be put in place to stop the spread of disease and limit the damage."

She added that IDEIA norovirus provides "rapid, reliable" results which are very useful to those involved in the detection and prevention of an outbreak.

The Oxoid group is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific and is a world leading manufacturer and distributor of microbiological culture media and other diagnostic products.