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Tuberculosis Spread Through Airline Travel - Worldwide Access to a New Blood Test is Now Available

Posted on: Monday, 25 June 2007, 09:05 CDT

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent reports on the risks of extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) being spread through airline travel have highlighted the need for improved TB testing for travelers and airline and airport staff. The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called upon concerned individuals to have themselves tested for TB infection if they believe they may have been in contact with XDR-TB. CDC officers recommend that, as an alternative to the century-old tuberculin skin test, the new and modern QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT) blood test should be considered for that purpose.

New test now internationally available and approved

Cellestis is pleased to announce that, in response to CDC, it is today inaugurating an online service to inform concerned parties of the availability of the QFT test in their vicinity. This will operate not only in the USA but worldwide, including all of Europe. QFT is the only blood test for the detection of TB infection that is approved in most developed and EU nations, including the USA, Japan, France, UK, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Canada. It is CE-marked for sale in the European Union, and available in many other countries. Not only is it approved, but it is recommended by National testing guidelines in many nations, including the USA, UK, France and Japan.

Why is this important in your country?

Interpretation of the traditional tuberculin skin test is subjective and there is wide global variation in the materials used to perform this test, as well as the test methodology. QFT provides an internationally consistent new standard for quick, consistent & reliable TB diagnosis. With growth in international airline travel, there is increased risk of TB spread, not least to and from airline and airport personnel. Due to its resistance to treatment, XDR-TB poses a special threat to any health system.

Why has there been a change?

QFT has been shown in numerous, recently published and presented scientific studies to provide much clearer and sounder medical information than traditional tuberculin skin testing, which has been in use since 1906. In June 2006 the World Health Organization published Guidelines for managing cases resulting from contact in aircraft with persons transmitting TB. These guidelines underscore the use of QFT, in particular for persons coming from countries with a low TB rate. For the same reason, guidelines of most major countries have been modified to include the use of a test such as QFT before medical action is taken for latent TB infection. Persons believing they may have had contact with a source of TB infection should plan to have themselves tested a few weeks (not earlier than 6-8 weeks) after the time of supposed contact.

"The widespread use of QuantiFERON-TB Gold, along with the many national guidelines from most major countries indicating its advantages, makes it a consistent international standard" comments Dr Tony Radford, CEO of Cellestis. "A QFT test gives the same accurate result worldwide, regardless of where or by whom the test is run, whereas skin testing results vary enormously due to differences in reagents, doses, test-cut-offs and interpretation. This makes QFT an attractive product for controlling TB internationally, and for testing those whose work or travel takes them cross international borders"

How do I find the test?

Most doctors who wish to prescribe the test for their patients will find that a local laboratory is able to service their need. The following instructions apply to persons wishing to receive a referral to laboratories serving their areas:

a. Go to http://www.quantiferon.com/ b. Enter your country c. Enter your professional and address information d. A response will be sent to you naming QFT service centers (laboratories) able to accept your patient's sample. About Cellestis:

Cellestis is a listed Australian biotechnology company commercialising QuantiFERON technology for diagnosing TB and other diseases worldwide. QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold tests for the presence or absence of a protein (gamma- interferon) produced by a patient's white blood cells after stimulation with specific TB proteins. The test has received regulatory and policy approvals in the USA, Japan, Europe and elsewhere. The Company operates through subsidiaries in the USA, Europe and Australia.

For more information, visit http://www.cellestis.com/ or please contact one of our local spokespersons at:

Cellestis Europe Robert Bosch Str. 7 Darmstadt D-64293 GERMANY +49 6151 428 590 (tel) +49 6151 428 59 110 (fax) europe@cellestis.com (Contact Mr Paul Lebeau) Cellestis International 1046A Dandenong Road Carnegie, VIC 3163 AUSTRALIA +61 3 9571 3500 (tel) +61 3 9571 3544 (fax) quantiferon@cellestis.com (Contact Dr Jim Rothel) Cellestis Inc. 28043 Smyth Drive. Valencia CA 91355 USA 800 519 4627 (toll free) 661 775 7480 (tel) 661 775 7479 (fax) customer.service@cellestis.com (Contact Mr Mark Boyle)

Cellestis

CONTACT: Paul Lebeau, Cellestis Europe, +49 6151 428 590, +49 6151 42859 110 (fax), europe@cellestis.com; Dr Jim Rothel, Cellestis International,+61 3 9571 3500, +61 3 9571 3544 (fax), quantiferon@cellestis.com; Mark Boyle,Cellestis Inc., +1-800-519-4627 or +1-661-775-7480, +1-661-775-7479 (fax),customer.service@cellestis.com

Web site: http://www.cellestis.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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