LexaGene reports successful results from beta testing on human urinary samples

LexaGene Holdings Inc (CVE:LXG) (OTCMKTS:LXXGF) announced Thursday that a human clinical diagnostics laboratory reported successful results from beta testing using the company’s genetic analyzers.

Assurance Scientific Laboratories in Alabama said that it had processed numerous urine samples that contained pathogens and found good correlation between LexaGene’s assay and its own process.

Human clinical diagnostics is the next milestone in Massachusetts-based LexaGene’s pathogen-screening technology, which is currently being commercialized for veterinary medicine as well as agricultural industries.

READ: LexaGene develops test for deadly mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus

Assurance Scientific Laboratories’ director of molecular diagnostics Dr Greer Massey said that the ability to automate extraction and sample analysis in under a minute of hands-on time will allow for lower overhead expenses for the laboratory.

“Their staff has built a very easy-to-use instrument that allows for the detection of many different targets from a single sample extraction,” said Dr Massey in a statement.

Massey also said that the lab is “looking forward” to a process that eliminates the micropipette, which is an expensive and delicate instrument used to transfer small amounts of liquids.

The laboratory’s director of microbiology Mary Beth Minyard said that LexaGene’s device “drastically reduces” hands-on time processing samples.

“Being able to combine automated sample extraction and analysis at a reasonable price would be a huge selling point for us,” Minyard said in a statement.

LexaGene has now completed beta tests for urinary tract infections in both dogs and humans, the company added. In contrast to the canine samples, human samples frequently contained multiple pathogens.

The biotechnology company’s CEO Dr Jack Regan said that he was “very pleased” that its beta program is having success. 

“We expect this trend to continue as we work through the final stages of commercializing this technology,” he told investors.

Contact Angela at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas

Story by ProactiveInvestors