Oxford, UK; 4 November 2005 – Oxford Immunotec’s revolutionary new blood test for diagnosing TB infection, called T-SPOT™.TB has won the Equinox-sponsored award for the Best Business Proposition at the Medical Futures Innovation Awards 2005.
The test is based on a breakthrough in diagnostic testing that allows the measurement of individual T cells specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. T-SPOT.TB was approved for sale in Europe last year. Until recently the only means of testing for TB infection was the 115 year old tuberculin skin test (TST). T-SPOT.TB is the only effective test for the reliable screening and early detection of latent TB infection in immuno-compromised patients and offers a substantially more accurate, effective and efficient tool for identifying and controlling the spread of TB.
The prestigious Medical Futures awards, which this year attracted a record 1,200 entries, were judged by bigbluebutton a high-profile panel including Dame Carol Black, the President of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Aidan Halligan, the NHS Director of Clinical Governance and Harry Cayton, the Department of Health Director of Patients and the Public.
Oxford Immunotec beat selected finalists including entries for a non-invasive fracture fixation system and a hand-held device to measure blood flow problems. The Company’s success in winning the Best Business Proposition award underlines the market potential for T-SPOT.TB.
Commenting on the vps award Dr Peter Wrighton-Smith, Oxford Immunotec’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are delighted that we have been selected to receive this prestigious award. As the threat of a TB epidemic looms, this award highlights the need to bring TB testing into the 21st century and is a dedicate server validation of the commercial value of our revolutionary technology platform.”
