Subject: Genetic Systems Test Kit Gets License From FDA
Date: Published: 9/27/91 (28 lines)
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

    Technology Brief -- Sanofi Inc.:
    Genetic Systems Test Kit
    Gets License From FDA

    The Food and Drug Administration has licensed the first
 combination test kit designed to detect antibodies to both
 strains of human immunodeficiency viruses that cause AIDS.  
    The agency said the Genetic Systems Corp. kit could
 streamline testing procedures for blood banks and other
 institutions engaged in high-volume screening and further
 improve the overall safety of the U. S. blood supply.
 Seattle-based Genetic Systems is a subsidiary of Sanofi Inc.,
 New York.
    Antibody tests for human immunodeficiency virus type 1, or
 HIV-1, were licensed in 1985 and are universally used by
 blood banks.  An antibody test for the extremely rare HIV-2,
 also developed by Genetic Systems, was licensed in 1990, but
 isn't widely used because of limited bloodbank resources.
    "A combination test may encourage more widespread testing"
 for HIV-2, said FDA Commisioner David Kessler.

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