Last month, Diatherix Laboratories, LLC, a leading provider of multiplex diagnostic solutions, launched the ABRx™ Antibiotic Resistance Panel, a diagnostic test for detection of 17 antibiotic resistance genes. Used on properly collected specimens taken directly from the infectious process, the ABRx™ Panel can enhance result times and diagnostic accuracy, providing physicians and pharmacists with clinically important information to benefit both patient outcomes and hospital quality measures.

The ABRx™ Panel detects clinically problematic and prevalent antibiotic resistance genes that lead to resistance to some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics: penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems, macrolides and fluoroquinolones. The molecular identification of antibiotic resistance is an innovative approach in clinical diagnostics when compared to antibiotic susceptibility testing performed in routine laboratories.

"Failure to properly identify bacteria's underlying gene resistance mechanisms can result in treatment failure and a cascading series of negative outcomes for patients, healthcare providers, payers and the general population," said Diatherix Laboratories' CEO Dennis Grimaud. "With utilization of the ABRx™ Panel, clinicians can make better informed treatment decisions that can lead to improved patient health, reduced hospital stays, decreased readmissions and overall costs. Most importantly, it can help assist in slowing the frightening pace of antibiotic resistance.