BD Supports the FDA's Proposal to Reclassify Rapid Influenza Tests

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) proposed reclassification of rapid influenza detection tests.  A hearing, held on June 13^th by FDA's CDRH Microbiology Devices Advisory Committee Meeting, examined the FDA's proposal to reclassify rapid influenza detection tests (RIDTs) currently regulated as Class I devices, into Class II devices.

The recent 2009 flu pandemic has emphasized the poor performance of point-of-care flu tests available at the time. The new performance standards will provide healthcare providers with criteria for evaluating the tests that they use. The proposal would increase performance requirements for RIDTs to attain at least a sensitivity of 90 percent for influenza A and 80 percent for influenza B versus viral culture and/or 80 percent versus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. If these minimum clinical performance criteria are not met, marketed devices will need to be withdrawn from the market one year after the rule is finalized. This proposal culminates years of publications showing that many of the visual read RIDTs had poor sensitivity when compared to viral culture and to reverse transcription PCR methods.

"This proposal is a step in the right direction as physicians and hospitals routinely rely on rapid diagnostic influenza tests to help manage patients that are suspected of having influenza," said Tom Polen, President, BD Diagnostics – Diagnostic Systems. "Raising the standards of rapid influenza tests will provide healthcare providers the right information to guide patient diagnosis and treatment without requiring repeat testing."

BD pioneered the development of a higher performing test platform two years ago with the launch of the BD Veritor™ System Flu A+B test. BD recognized the need for an improved test early and developed and launched the first CLIA-waived flu test referenced to PCR that provides objective results on an easy-to-read digital display.  Negative test results do not preclude influenza viral infection and should not be used as the sole basis for treatment or other management decisions. 

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs nearly 30,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

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SOURCE BD-Becton Dickinson