FDA approves Sarasota firm's dry-eye test

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared InflammaDry, a product Rapid Pathogen Screening designed to quickly test for dry-eye disease, for nationwide sales.

The Sarasota County-based company, run out of a Lakewood Ranch office, says InflammaDry “plays an essential role in accurately diagnosing dry-eye disease,” which can lead to inflammation, discomfort and potential damage. InflammaDry, the company adds in a release, takes only a few minutes and a technician can administer it with a small sample of human tears in a patient's initial workup. Results take about 10 minutes.

“FDA's clearance of the InflammaDry test is another important milestone for RPS,” RPS President and CEO Dr. Robert Sambursky says in the release. “InflammaDry will help clinicians confirm the diagnosis of dry eye before the patient leaves their office, resulting in more timely and appropriate management of their disease.”

InflammaDry will go along with another RPS product, AdenoPlus, which tests for conjunctivitis in 10 minutes. RPS was founded in 2004. It won a contract to do work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last year.