ASX-listed diagnostics developer Genetic Signatures has secured its first customer as it starts marketing a new test that can simultaneously detect 12 of the world's most common sexually transmitted infections.
Genetic Signatures is targeting its EasyScreen sexually transmitted infection (STI) kit at hospitals and pathology laboratories and its first sale, to a Sydney lab, marks the company's entry into the $550 million STI testing market.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than one million STIs are contracted daily, profoundly affecting people's sexual and reproductive health, and most STIs have no or only mild symptoms that may not be identified properly.
Genetic Signatures chief executive John Melki said EasyScreen's technology reduces the complexity of genetic information and delivers accurate results in hours rather than days.
"In terms of benefits, patients will ultimately get a quicker result covering more pathogens," he said.
"The key to the future success of our new STI detection kit is its ability to screen for multiple pathogens in a rapid and common process using existing laboratory equipment.
"This saves both time and money."
The EasyScreen kit is initially available under the designation "Research Use Only" which allows a product to be released prior to obtaining full regulatory approval.
Mr Melki said that in Australia, "Research Use Only" products can be used in a diagnostic setting as long as the user conducts their own validation.
Full regulatory approval in Australia and Europe is expected within months, he said.
A pathology lab at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital has become Genetic Signatures' first EasyScreen customer.
