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New test diagnoses acute conjunctivitis

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PHOENIX – Nicox Inc. launched AdenoPlus, an in-office test that aids in the differential diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis, here at Academy 2012.

AdenoPlus detects all known serotypes of adenovirus, private practitioner Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO, reported at an academy-sponsored press conference. The test, which can be performed by a technician, takes 2 minutes to conduct, and results are available in 10 minutes.

“It’s low cost, disposable and reimbursable,” Karpecki said. “It’s highly sensitive and specific down to 6 ng/mL.”

There are 6 million cases each year of acute allergic, bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, Karpecki said.

“There’s so much overlap amongst the various conditions, and it’s hard to believe that 25% could be viral,” he said.

“These are all self-limiting conditions; they will go away with treatment, but they could be contagious longer, and you could build resistance if you’re using an antibiotic and it’s viral,” Karpecki said.

“Many of us thought if there’s a lot of purulent discharge, that would be bacterial, but there’s no statistical difference in viral and bacterial in discharge,” he continued. “There’s not much difference with mucoid discharge. Foreign body sensation is more common with allergic eye disease. Almost 40% of viral has itching, which throws us off because we think it’s allergic. Some doctors say they can differentiate follicles, and a follicular response can be viral. I still have difficulty differentiating papillae from follicles.”

Karpecki said there are a number of reasons to identify red eye patients early.

“You’ll treat more effectively, reduce the chance of resistance and prevent spread,” he said. “I’ve seen doctors have to shut down their clinic. There is an urgency when you get viral conditions.”

Karpecki said he has a “red eye room” at his clinic, which is cleaned for 10 minutes in between patients.

Technicians take the patient history and perform the AdenoPlus test to rule out adenovirus.

“Assume it’s contagious until proven otherwise,” Karpecki said.