The Food & Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a test that simultaneously detects four common respiratory viruses, including the flu, in a patient’s respiratory secretions. The ProFlu+ molecular biology device, manufactured by Prodesse Inc. of Milwaukee, WI, provides results in as few as three hours. Other diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses are fast but not as accurate, or are accurate but not as rapid, the FDA said.

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February 11, 2008 - Table of Contents

NIR February 11, 2008 (full PDF issue)

President’s Budget Spares Lab Fees, Is Silent on Physician Fee Fix

San Diego Labs Ask Court for Immediate Halt to Medicare Competitive Bidding Demo

President Calls for Steep Medicare Provider Pay Cuts, Lab Fees Spared, But Physician Fee Fix Not Addressed

Court Blocks Medicare Pay Cutoffs in CLIA Lab Dispute

FDA Okays New Test for Four Common Respiratory Viruses