November 18, 2009 (FinancialWire) — The IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS) Sample Processing Division has initiated shipments of its new StatSpin(R) OvaTube System for use in veterinary hospitals, clinics and reference laboratories to process fecal samples for the detection of ova and parasites.

“The StatSpin(R) OvaTube is a single use disposable device for centrifugal flotation of ova and parasites, representing a significant ease of use improvement over the existing standard centrifugal method with comparable accuracy,” stated Robert Mello, president of Iris Sample Processing. “It is a novel disposable centrifugal device that is significantly easier to use, cleaner and twice as fast than the current gravity flotation devices used TODAY, and is designed to be compatible with most fixed angle or horizontal bench top centrifuges already broadly used in the market. Fecal samples are collected, mixed with flotation fluid, and centrifuged all in the same device, with results obtained on site while the veterinary patient is waiting.”

“Based on our research, there are some 20 million ova parasite tests performed on animals each year in the U.S. alone, with some 15 million of these tests being performed in 25,000 veterinary clinics. However, due to the messy and cumbersome nature of the current centrifugal method, users opt to perform the majority of these tests using a gravity flotation device despite its inferior clinical results, versus the centrifugal method which has significantly higher sensitivity. We believe the launch of the OvaTube with its unique benefits, cleaner, easy to use features and faster turnaround time, will result in greater utilization of centrifugation as the preferred method for ova and parasite detection in the clinic, due to its higher sensitivity,” Mello said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year some 1-3 million humans are infected with hookworm by their pets. A study by the CDC shows the transmission of Toxocara from dogs and cats to humans is most common in young children and youth under age 20. Infections are acquired by accidental ingestion of Toxocara eggs found in environments contaminated with feces of infected dogs and cats. This includes play areas and sandboxes. Although most persons infected with Toxocara have no apparent symptoms, such infection can cause blindness and other serious systemic illness, if left untreated.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council states that 34% of dogs have gastrointestinal parasites. To control internal and external parasites, CAPC recommends fecal examinations two to four times during the first year of life and one to two times per year in adult animals, depending on their health and lifestyle factors. CAPC also recommends the use of centrifugal flotation as the preferred method or “gold standard” for routine screening. Centrifugal methods allow for quicker and more effective separation of ova compared to gravity flotation. Slides prepared using this method have less debris and are easier to read and results are more sensitive than the gravity flotation method.

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