The Food & Drug Administration has cleared Thermo Fisher Scientific’s test to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Outbreaks of this potentially life-threatening infection have historically occurred mainly in hospital settings, but in recent years have flared up in community settings, heightening public health concerns.

The Spectra MRSA test is manufactured, distributed, and sold under the Thermo Fisher specialty brand, Remel. It uses a selective chromogenic medium on which MRSA colonies appear as dark blue on a white background. Results are available within 24 hours. For more, see the April issue of Diagnostic Testing & Technology Report.