Labmaster LUCIA™ MxA test is an in vitro near-patient diagnostic test for the quantitative determination of Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) from whole blood. The MxA test is used for detection of acute respiratory tract viral infections from symptomatic patients. MxA protein can also serve as a general biomarker reflecting the interferon response in the body. The Labmaster LUCIA™ MxA Kit is to be used with semi-automated Labmaster LUCIA™ Analyzer by healthcare professionals.

New research confirms the accuracy of the Labmaster LUCIA™ MxA Test. Read the full study by Piri et al. (2024) here.

• Point-of-care test based on fingertip blood sample 

• Quick result in only 11 minutes 

• Easy handling, only a few steps needed 

• All-in-one test kit, reagents and washing buffer included

• Applied together, the Labmaster LUCIA™ CRP and MxA tests provide an efficient method for differentiation of viral and bacterial acute respiratory tract infections. This helps to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. 

MxA is an informative general biomarker for the most common acute viral infections as its levels in blood are increased with symptomatic respiratory viral infections. It can be used as a marker for distinguishing viral from bacterial disease. (i–v) This aids physicians in making the correct diagnosis and reduces unnecessary antibiotic treatment. MxA protein can serve as a general biomarker reflecting the interferon response in the body (vi-x).

See also study by Piri et al. (2024) on the accuracy and speed of the Labmaster LUCIA™ MxA Test. 

(i) Engelmann I. et al. 2015.Diagnosis of viral infections using myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA). Pediatrics 135:e985–993. 

(ii) Toivonen L. et al. 2015. Blood MxA protein as a marker for respiratory virus infections in young children. J Clin Virol. 62; 8–13. 

(iii) Ivaska L. 2017. Diagnostic studies in children with acute infections: Microbes and biomarkers. Doctoral thesis. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis series D, part 1269, University of Turku, Finland.

(iv) Toivonen L. 2016. Rhinovirus infections in young children: Clinical manifestations, susceptibility, and host response. Doctoral thesis. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis series D, part 1249, University of Turku, Finland. 

(v) Chieux V., Hober D., Chehadeh W., et al. 1999. MxA protein in capillary blood of children with viral infections. J Med Virol 59:547–551.

(vi) McNab F., Mayer-Barber K., Sher A. et al. Type I interferons in infectious disease. Nat Rev Immunol 15, 87–103 (2015).

(vii) Haller O., & Kochs G. (2011). Human MxA protein: an interferon-induced dynaminlike GTPase with broad antiviral activity. Journal of interferon & cytokine research, 31(1), 79–87.

(viii) Stertz S., Reichelt M., Krijnse-Locker J., Mackenzie J., et al. (2006). Interferon-induced, antiviral human MxA protein localizes to a distinct subcompartment of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Journal of interferon & cytokine research, 26(9), 650–660.

(ix) Pestka S., Krause C. D., & Walter M. R. (2004). Interferons, interferon-like cytokines, and their receptors. Immunological reviews, 202, 8–32.

(x) Millonig, A., Dressel, A., Bahner, D., Bitsch, A., Bogumil, T., Elitok, E., Kitze, B., Tumani, H., Weber, F., Gneiss, C., & Deisenhammer, F. (2008). MxA protein - an interferon beta biomarker in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. European journal of neurology, 15(8), 822–826.