September 8, 2015

Commonwealth Laboratories Launch a New, Simple Blood Test to Quickly and Reliably Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Commonwealth Laboratories, Inc, Salem, Massachusetts, announced recently the availability of IBSchek™, a new blood test designed to help physicians quickly and reliably diagnose irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Commonwealth Laboratories, Inc, Salem, Massachusetts, announced recently the availability of IBSchek™, a new blood test designed to help physicians quickly and reliably diagnose irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Within 24 hours of receiving the blood specimen, the test identifies the presence of 2 antibodies: anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin, which recent data have shown to be indicative of diarrhea-prominent IBS. These data, which will be presented during an oral session at Digestive Disease Week® 2015 in Washington, DC, show that for the first time ever, researchers have identified an organic biomarker for the diagnosis of IBS. Prior to the introduction of IBSchek™, a diagnosis of IBS was typically made after excluding all other conditions. This often requires multiple costly diagnostic tests over an average of 5 years to rule out other conditions before coming to a confident diagnosis of IBS. 
 
The data were also published in a study the peer-reviewed journal, PLoS ONE, on May 13, 2015. 
 
IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting nearly 40 million Americans. It is more common in women than in men and the symptoms can be very difficult to diagnose. Until now, it has been unknown whether or not there is a natural cause of IBS. As a result, IBS patients typically consult with more than 4 healthcare providers before they are diagnosed with the disorder. In addition, up to 70% of people with IBS do not consult their healthcare providers regarding their symptoms, thinking their symptoms are not serious enough or are caused by secondary factors such as diet, stress, anxiety or depression. This means that many patients are living with IBS without being properly diagnosed. 
 
IBSchek™ is a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based test that aims to change this paradigm. The test can be conducted via standard blood draw in a healthcare provider's office, with results reported within 24 hours of the patient's blood specimen being received by Commonwealth Labs for analysis.
 

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