Released on: October 17, 2008, 2:40 pm

Press Release Author: Patrick Barton

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: Test performed on single patient sample is first to
simultaneously detect and identify 12 viruses known to cause over 85 percent of
respiratory viral infections

Press Release Body: NASHVILLE, Tennessee EUR" October 17, 2008 -- In an effort to help
clinicians improve patient care and save lives through rapid diagnosis of disease,
Genetic Assays, Inc. (GA) is offering a new lab test to hospitals and medical
centers EUR" the xTagTM Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) from Luminex Molecular
Diagnostics. The RVP is a groundbreaking test that provides qualitative results for
the presence or absence of the following 12 infectious respiratory viruses and viral
subtypes from a single patient sample:
EUR Adenovirus
EUR Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV)
EUR Influenza A
EUR Influenza A subtype H1
EUR Influenza A subtype H3
EUR Influenza B
EUR Parainfluenza 1
EUR Parainfluenza 2
EUR Parainfluenza 3
EUR Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A
EUR Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) B
EUR Rhinovirus.

The results of this multiplex assay will be particularly useful to emergency room
physicians, pulmonologists, infectious disease physicians, and critical care
doctors. The target beneficiaries of the RVP include patients in adult, pediatric,
and neonatal intensive care units, as well as geriatric patients in nursing homes.

Mike Mammarelli, Chairman, President, and CEO of Genetic Assays, Inc. says,
"Multiplex molecular diagnostics is paving the way for great advancements in patient
care within the clinical laboratory industry. We at Genetic Assays are excited about
the opportunity to be the first laboratory within our markets to offer the
simultaneous detection and identification of 12 leading respiratory viruses.
Patients from all walks of life, ranging from newborn to elderly, will benefit from
this testing. The release of this new test offering should coincide well with the
advent of flu season."

In June 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the
2007-2008 flu season was worse than the previous two. Deaths attributed to pneumonia
and flu exceeded the CDC's statistical epidemic threshold for a consecutive period
of 19 weeks. The number of patient visits to healthcare providers for treatment of
influenza and respiratory illness surpassed national baseline levels from late
December 2007 to late March 2008.1

When an ailing patient visits a healthcare provider with an unknown respiratory
infection, the RVP results provided by Genetic Assays will be able to meet the vital
need for increased sensitivity and decreased diagnosis time. The panel is able to
simultaneously detect 12 viruses in as little as 24 hours at sensitivity levels over
90 percent, as compared to conventional testing which typically takes 2-8 weeks to
show results. These advantages are of particular importance when hard-to-culture
organisms are involved. Furthermore, the RVP is the first test cleared to
differentiate between H1 and H3 subtypes of Influenza A. This new multiplex assay is
also the first test to detect human metapneumovirus, a leading cause of respiratory
infection in children.

Many symptoms of respiratory disease are shared, so it can be difficult to determine
whether a bacteria or virus, and which specific virus, is the cause. As Paul
Dahlhauser, GAEUR(tm)s Director of Research and Laboratory Services elaborates, EURSince the
qualitative results of the RVP cover more than 85 percent of respiratory viral
infections, it enables physicians to provide appropriate treatment while preventing
inappropriate use of antibiotics.EUR

About Genetic Assays: Genetic Assays is a molecular diagnostics reference
laboratory, incorporated and licensed by the State of Tennessee since 1994.
Possessing a CLIA certificate of accreditation, GA is a high-complexity DNA testing
facility that has performed hundreds of thousands of molecular tests since its
inception. This genetic technology company offers physicians, hospitals, and
laboratories the most advanced molecular techniques for the gene level diagnosis and
management of disease. Services are focused on the disciplines of Molecular Biology
and Pathology. For more information about xTagTM Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP),
please see www.geneticassays.com or phone Genetic Assays at (800) 390-5280.

(1) Centers for Disease Control. Accessed 8 October 2008.
.



Web Site: http://www.writersinsky.com

Contact Details: Contact Patrick Barton:
Phone: (800) 390-5280
Email: ptbarton@geneticassays.com