FDA approves 2-hour staph blood test

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Becton, Dickinson and Co on Wednesday said it received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for a test to identify the presence of two deadly healthcare-associated infections: Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA.

The maker of diagnostic tests, laboratory equipment and hospital products, whose shares rose more than 3 percent to a record in early trading, said the tests provide results within two hours, directly from positive blood cultures.

Becton said the rapid tests it will allow for more appropriate isolation procedures and agent-specific antimicrobial therapy and ultimately reduce health-care costs.

(Reporting by Debra Sherman; Editing by Mark Porter/Gerald E. McCormick)