6.20.11 | Frank Vinluan

‘Cat Scratch’ bacteria test gets SBIR grant for N.C. firm Galaxy Diagnostics

Medical technology company Galaxy Diagnostics has been awarded a $188,000 federal grant for its research on a detection technology for the bacteria that causes Cat Scratch Disease.

The SBIR grant comes from the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes for Health. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-based Galaxy has developed a test that targets Bartonella bacteria, which is a key agent in Cat Scratch Disease, also commonly called “Cat Scratch Fever.” Bartonella bacteria is also connected to a range of chronic animal and human conditions that affect the central nervous system, joints and vascular system. The bacteria can be transmitted by flea and tick bites, animal bites and animal scratches.

“We are very grateful that the NIH/NIAID recognizes the importance of better testing for Bartonella, and this grant will help us further refine our test methodology and develop test kits to make this test more widely available,” Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, co-inventor of the testing technology and Galaxy chief science officer, said in a prepared statement.

A successful Bartonella diagostic would represent a medical breakthrough. Bartonella bacteria are difficult to detect and conventional tests often return false negatives, which leads to missed diagnosis and treatment. Galaxy’s patented test, called EnrichmentPCR, was developed by research scientists at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The diagnostic combines molecular detection methods with a patented growth medium for detecting the presence of Bartonella DNA. Galaxy said that the technology improves testing accuracy compared with other available techniques. The company is aiming to bring Bartonella testing to both animal and human health markets.

Frank Vinluan

Frank Vinluan is the North Carolina Bureau Chief for MedCity News.

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Tags: Durham, Galaxy Diagnostics, medical devices, North Carolina, Research Triangle Park

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The Tuttle family was featured on New Hampshire Chronicle’s Living with Lyme with the program archived on their site in six small segments for viewing on the computer. Although our story takes place in New Hampshire, faulty Lyme diagnostic tests are missing tens of thousands of cases worldwide every year. Based on the universal misunderstanding of lab results, I have constructed a website highlighting the plague of ignorance as it relates to the misdiagnosis of Lyme disease. Our “perspective” on Lyme disease comes from first hand experience as all family members have been afflicted with this disease. What we find most disturbing is the fact that our family practitioners knew absolutely nothing about Lyme disease, had a universal misunderstanding of lab results and a universal dismissal of Lyme symptoms. None of our family members presented with a bulls-eye rash and only our daughter recalled a tick bite. In the absence of the bulls-eye rash, the likelihood of obtaining a timely diagnosis in a state with the highest reported number of Lyme disease cases is virtually nonexistent. Every patient attending the monthly Lyme support group meeting has a similar story. The misdiagnosis of Lyme disease is rampant in New Hampshire fueled by faulty diagnostic tests. The first line screening test for Lyme (Elisa) is producing false negatives and everyone is told they do not have Lyme disease. A follow-up Western blot test which is much more sensitive is forbidden when the Elisa is negative. The Western blot is only allowed after a positive Elisa to rule out a false positive. How do we rule out a false negative?? We don’t!! This is criminal

Comment by Carl Tuttle — June 22, 2011 @ 4:13 pm

We need better test period. My Elisa was a true positive and my Western blot was still negative. My doctor used the Elias, MRI and SPECT, all positive, to treat me.

Comment by Dianne Mulholland — June 25, 2011 @ 11:44 am