Rapid test for determination of chemokine CXCL13

Chemokine CXCL13 is considered as a relevant biomarker of acute Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Until recently, the laboratory diagnosis of LNB was based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and the presence of intrathecal Borrelia specific antibodies. As shown in several studies, CXCL13 concentration is significantly elevated in CSF of LNB patients even before intrathecal production of Borrelia specific antibodies. Furthermore, CXCL13 rapidly decreases in CSF as a result of effective antibiotic therapy.  Reagena has developed a lateral flow rapid test, ReaScan CXCL13, for the detection of CXCL13 in human CSF. The ReaScan CXCL13 test procedure takes only 20 minutes and the intensity of the test line is read with the handheld ReaScan rapid test reader giving a numerical and objective result. ReaScan CXCL13 provides a new diagnostic tool for the rapid determination of CXCL13 near the patient and helps clinicians in the treatment decision for suspected LNB patients.