Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Bayer Gets FDA Approval for New HIV Test


Company says labs can increase testing with greater accuracy
NEW YORK (AP) Jun 21, 12:33 PM

Drug developer Bayer AG said Wednesday its healthcare diagnostics division received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a new automated HIV test that can detect all known types of the infection.

The test, called the EHIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Enhanced, was approved for use on Bayer's ADVIA Centaur Immunoassay System. EHIV is an in vitro diagnostic test that looks for antibodies in human serum and plasma to HIV 1, HIV 2 and a subtype of HIV 1. The test is automated, allowing laboratories to increase testing with more accurate results, Bayer said in a statement.

The system is made and sold by Bayer Diagnostics for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

American depositary shares of Germany-based Bayer rose 68 cents to $41.61 during morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Johnson & Johnson added 16 cents to $61.69 in recent trading on the NYSE
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