ATLANTA – Latex allergies can limit or end the career of medical professionals who deal with latex-based medical devices constantly.
Latex allergies tend to develop over time from continual contact with latex materials. The allergy is relatively rare in the general population with approximately 3 per cent suffering fro the allergy, but it can affect up to 17 per cent of health care workers. Like other allergies, the severity of the reaction can range: in mild cases, individuals could have only skin irritation but in severe cases, patients can go into anaphylactic shock when exposed to latex.
If you are allergic to latex, the problem is with the proteins in the substance. This is where Vystar comes in.
Vystar Corp is an Atlanta-based startup that has developed a new patented technology that reduces the protein responsible for latex allergy to nearly undetectable levels. The company was founded in 2000, and has raised $7 million in private investment since 2004 alone.
Clearly, the technology has investors interest.
There’s good reason for that interest. Some health care professionals have been forced to leave their work due to latex allergy. At a time when medical care is at a premium, losing professionals at the peak of their abilities due to allergy is a burden on both the individual and society.
While reducing the allergen is good news, the question is whether the medical devices will continue to function properly. In most cases, latex is used for medical grade gloves that provide protection to the health care worker from patient bodily fluids. Vystar CEO, Bill Doyle, says that Vytex NRL reduces the allergens while maintaining critical product qualities, including barrier protection, strength and durability.
Consumers will have to wait to buy this product themselves. Vystar has just signed a manufacturing agreement with a US manufacturer of condoms and straight dipped gloves to develop products made with Vytex NRL. However, final biocompatibility tests with the US FDA are still pending.
Source: Tech Journal South
