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(Alliance News) - Genedrive PLC on Monday reported further progress in the rollout of its hearing loss gene screening test in the UK.
The Manchester, England-based point-of-care molecular diagnostics company said its MT-RNR1 ID Kit is set to roll out at two more hospitals in the UK's North West National Health Service.
The test is used to screen infants for a genetic variant which causes lifelong hearing loss if those who carry it are dosed with certain antibiotics.
Genedrive is working with Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Women & Children Domain, which falls under Health Innovation Manchester. It continues to work with HInM for the rollout across a further five neonatal sites in Greater Manchester.
"Once fully subscribed at this regional level, the test would be available when needed to circa 30,000 newborns over the next NHS fiscal year, of which 10-12% are modelled to be admitted to a regional neonatal unit," Genedrive said.
The roll-out is part of the firm's implementation project, which will begin from April. It will follow the final recommendation of NICE, the UK's National Institute for Health & Care Excellence.
Last month, the firm said NICE had preliminarily recommended the test. The final decision is due towards the end of this month, it said.
Shares in Genedrive were marginally lower at 42.99 pence each in London on Monday morning.
By Elizabeth Winter, Alliance News senior markets reporter
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