Great Basin is developing a rapid (less than one hour to result) test for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile.  Toxigenic C. difficile will be diagnosed by the presence of the tcdB gene in the PaLOC region of C. difficile. Swabs from a loose stool will be placed into transfer solution.  An aliquot of the solution will be added to the cartridge and the test initiated; no further hands-on steps will be required.

Further, Great Basin is exploring the development of a test that can identify hypervirulent strains of toxigenic C. difficile.

About Clostridium difficile (C. diff)

Toxigenic C. difficile is the main etiological agent of antibiotic associated diarrhea (15-25% of cases) and pseudomembranous colitis. Clostridium difficile infection (or CDI), is caused by use of antibiotics which disrupt normal intestinal flora, predisposing patients to colonization by C. diff.  Toxigenic C. difficile is a spore-forming, gram positive anaerobic bacillus that can product two toxins: Toxin A (tcdA gene) and Toxin B (tcdB gene). Pathogenicity is conferred by the toxins; non-toxigenic strains do not cause disease.

Early recognition of CDI is critical for proper disease management. The prevalence of the disease is growing as is the mortality rate.  Epidemic strains—refractory to standard treatments—are emerging as well.