DiaSorin Launches the Herpes Molecular Diagnostics Test on its LIAISON IAM

New test now available to customers outside of US and Canada

DiaSorin is pleased to announce the launch of its sixth molecular diagnostic test on its LIAISON IAM platform for the detection of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) on plasma and serum samples.

The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), often contracted in early childhood, is contagious, usually not recognized by the patient and is latent after infection and can reactivate periodically. When, however, infections are symptomatic, typically involve oral lesions that heal within 2-3 weeks or genital lesions.

The new DiaSorin IAM HSV test, available on the market outside of the United States and Canada, enriches the existing molecular diagnostics offer of the Group made of: BK Virus (IAM BKV), Varicella Zoster Virus (IAM VZV), Toxoplasmosis (IAM TOXO), Parvovirus (IAM PARVO) and Cytomegalovirus (IAM CMV).

The IAM HSV will be of primary importance for:

• infants and immunocompromised people - early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of HSV-1 and HSV-2 inhibitors reduce and prevent significant neurological damage;
• transplant and immunocompromised patients - if not adequately treated, HSV can cause serious infections that spread to visceral organs, endangering the organs themselves and the patient's life;
• pregnant women - early detection can save the child's life, because the neonatal HSV infection, although rare, is associated with a significant mortality rate, with a risk of transmission to the newborn higher if the mother contracts a primary infection during pregnancy.

Paul Eros, Global Vice President Molecular DiaSorin, commented: “HSV represents a serious danger for transplant patients and for the immunocompromised, as well as for babies when the mother contracted a primary infection during pregnancy. We are therefore proud to have introduced this test in our molecular diagnostics offer, confirming once again that we are a major player in the area of infectious diseases and being sure of having developed a test that can improve the health of people, sometimes even by saving the life”.

Carlo Rosa, CEO di DiaSorin Group, commented: "The IAM HSV is the sixth of the seven products that we had planned to launch in molecular diagnostics in the field of infectious diseases. We are also pursuing the development of products aimed at onco-hematology and we plan to position our Group strongly also in this area by the end of the year”.