Released: Tuesday 24th May 2011

Alva-based medical testing company Omega Diagnostics has signed a deal covering the sale and distribution of its Food Detective kit in the US.

The deal gives Toyota Tsusho America Inc (TAI) exclusive rights to sell the test in the US.

Omega has developed testing kits for hospitals, blood banks and laboratories in more than 100 countries.

It specialises in creating kits for food intolerance, autoimmune disease and infectious disease.

Before the Food Detective kit can be sold in the US it has to get regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

TAI will fund that process, which is likely to take up to two years.

Andrew Shepherd, chief executive of Omega, said: "The product has been sold in over 50 countries and is well accepted as being a reliable test for those people suffering from the effects of food intolerance.

"This cost-effective test has great potential in the significant US market."