Clostridium difficile

PerkinElmer's subsidiary Wallac will now distribute the Amplidiag product line in Israel and in a number of countries in Africa.

The test can generate results in around 35 minutes from stool samples and requires no upfront nucleic acid extraction.

Analyses of Clostridium difficile isolates from hundreds of European hospitals led to clusters of apparent hospital-acquired cases and of infections with other potential sources.

The Liat point of care system system has launched with four assays, including three respiratory tests and a novel test for Clostridium difficile.

The assay has been available outside the US since November and runs on the Liaison MDX benchtop instrument. 

The firm said that it has completed clinical trials for the Group B Strep assay for the FDA and will start trials for the C. difficile test this month. 

The test is the third in the firm's line of infectious disease assays, which also includes tests for meningococcus and Group B Strep.

The company said it expects a 1 percent increase in 2016 revenues, but noted that the results were adversely affected by certain competitive pressures in Q4, among other problems.