Menon Biosensors Demonstrates Industry Leading Sensitivity Levels for Detection of Tuberculosis and Clostridium difficile

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Menon Biosensors, Inc. a molecular biochemistry company that provides DNA analysis for the diagnosis of biological pathogens, announced today that its M² (Molecular Mirroring) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology successfully detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in studies with more than 500 samples, in concentrations as low as 1 colony-forming unit (CFU) per sample, without any false positives or negatives. The company will present the results of its studies at the Biotech Showcase 2014 in San Francisco on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at 4:15 p.m. PST.

"With our unique platform detection technology, our scientists were able to develop and optimize our assays for these serious worldwide diseases in just 60 to 90 days, while still delivering unmatched sensitivity," stated Suresh Menon, Ph.D., President of Menon Biosensors. "In these studies the time from sample to result continues to be less than one hour. We plan to continue to demonstrate the speed and sensitivity of our technology in detecting additional pathogens for individual and public health, including food safety and livestock applications, where timely detection and intervention are very important." 

The studies were conducted at Scripps Memorial Hospital laboratories, where Menon employees worked under the supervision of John Spinosa, M.D., Ph.D., pathologist at Scripps La Jolla. The M² technology detected the presence of TB and C. difficile in concentrations as low as 1 CFU/sample in water and 5 CFU/sample (50-100 CFU/mL) in sputum and stool.  Time from sample-to-result was less than one hour, including sample preparation time that ranged from 5 to 15 minutes depending on the specimen type. Menon Biosensors expects to further optimize these assays for detection of pathogens in sputum and stool to measure even lower concentrations and to publish additional clinical validation data in 2014.

About Menon Biosensors' Platform Technology

Menon Biosensors' M² technology has been validated through multiple studies with the U.S. government's Biodefense Program. In these studies, conducted in more than 3,000 samples over a six-year period, the technology demonstrated greater than 99 percent accuracy. The tests were conducted in the presence of interferants and near neighbors of the pathogens to be detected. 

Providing accurate results in less than one hour from the time a sample is collected, Menon Biosensors' M² technology allows medical professionals to quickly treat a pathogen with the appropriate therapeutic. Current diagnosis techniques for many pathogens may require several hours to multiple days for accurate detection, which limits treatment options early in the patient's care. The M² technology also serves the need for diagnosis in food safety/livestock applications.

Menon Biosensor' platform technology is portable and offers random access testing with no cold chain requirements for the assays. 

About Menon Biosensors, Inc.

Menon Biosensors is a molecular biochemistry company that provides DNA analysis for the diagnosis of biological pathogens. Menon Biosensors' microfluidics and M² NMR platform technology (classified by the U.S. Government until 2012) provides superior sensitivity and specificity and minimizes sample preparation, providing best in class sample-to-answer pathogen detection. The technology has been validated by respected third parties in more than 3,000 samples over six years.

SOURCE Menon Biosensors