The market for diagnostic tests that can detect prion-related diseases is changing rapidly as new technologies develop and emerging application areas arise, according to a new study released today from Kalorama Information.  The so-called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are primarily diseases seen in animal populations -- mad cow disease, scrapie, chronic wasting disease, and others -- but their rare human counterparts such as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are an increasing concern.

The study reveals that although the traditional immunohistochemical (IHC) approach is considered the gold standard in post-mortem testing, rapid immunoassay and protein tests are making headway. Further, there are many competitors that are advancing ideas for in vivo and in vitro ante-mortem tests, which may change the face of TSE monitoring in the coming years.

"Although all of the testing we're seeing now in this area involves relatively traditional IVD work," notes Steven Heffner, Acquisitions Editor for Kalorama Information, "there are several potential breakthrough methods coming from far afield -- ECGs, sheep genotyping, even pathogen removal systems -- that have the potential to radically change this market before some competitors even get products to market."

The new study, the first volume of a continuing study called Diagnostics for Emerging Infectious Disease Threats, examines the emerging technologies, the competitive positioning, and revenues generated in this market worldwide. It provides detailed information on testing volumes for each type of prion disease by country and discusses the merits of the various technological approaches being developed to detect prions in minute amounts.

CONTACT:  Matt Seward of MarketResearch.com, for more information: mseward@marketresearch.com