Recently, the Chilean Journal of Infectology published a scientific article with a comparative analysis between our Galactomannan kit (Vircell) and that of a competitor in Chile (Plateia™, Galénica).
The management, research and production of the document were carried out by Rubi Troncoso, Claudia Sepúlveda, Evelyn Sepúlveda, Camila Guzmán, Cecilia Tapia and Marcela Morales.
The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of the GM-VClia test in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples previously processed with the Platelia™ Aspergillus EIA kit (GM-Plat). For this purpose, 56 serum samples and 40 BAL samples were studied, corresponding to a total of 59 patients (some with galactomannan determination in both samples) with pulmonary, hematological, SLE, Covid-19 and tumor diseases, among others[1].
“The kit is a very useful tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with invasive aspergillosis, a fungus that takes advantage of our body when we have a weak immune system (…) we worked together with the Clínica Dávila laboratory, since they are the ones who have the samples and we have the reagent. And that allows us to advance in research,” says Marcela Morales, Customer Service Manager at Microbac and participant in the study. She also refers to the reason that prompted the research, “The idea was born at a time when the Galactomannan test was being evaluated much more in Chile, especially because being in a pandemic it could be more harmful to suffer from this fungal infection, or even develop it as a result of COVID-19.”
The study – carried out between 2020 and 2021 – showed that the GM-VClia kit has a higher sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) than the GM-Plat kit. In turn, GM-VClia has easier processing and faster results.
The conclusions maintain that the Galactomannan kit (Vircell) and its Virclia LOTUS platform can be considered an excellent alternative to Platelia™, which is more sensitive, facilitates clinical routine and provides faster results.
We are very pleased with the results of this research, which analyzes the quality of one of our products, and we are also proud to be able to be an active part of the scientific research of clinical laboratory processing and reagents in Chile.
We recognize the work of the authors and executors of the research, proudly congratulating our dear Customer Service Manager, Marcela Morales!
[1] Troncoso C., Rubi, Sepúlveda F, Claudia, Sepúlveda P, Evelyn, Guzmán U, Camila, Morales G, Marcela, & Tapia P, Cecilia. (2022). Evaluation of the Aspergillus Galactomannan Ag VircliaR Monotest as an alternative to the Platelia™ Aspergillus EIA kit. Chilean Journal of Infectology, 39(3), 248-253. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0716-10182022000200248
