AV-U13

AV-U13 is an inhaled, pharmaceutical‑grade urea labeled with the stable non‑radioactive carbon‑13 isotope (13C‑urea) developed by Avisa Pharma as the tracer drug component of the AV BreathTest, a point‑of‑care breath test for rapid detection and monitoring of serious bacterial lung infections such as cystic fibrosis lung infections, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Delivered via nebulizer to the lungs, AV-U13 is metabolized by urease‑expressing pathogens (for example Pseudomonas aeruginosa) into 13CO2 and ammonia; the exhaled 13CO2 is then quantified by the AVISAR spectrophotometer, with the signal proportional to bacterial load in the entire lung.[1][10][16] AV-U13 is described as safe, non‑radioactive, and intended as part of a drug–device combination to guide appropriate and timely antibiotic therapy in acute and chronic pulmonary infections.[1][6][15][16]

Other names

13C-ureainhalable urea solutionAV BreathTest tracer component