Infectious Diseases

Sept. 22, 2013

Process up to four discrete samples on the same microarray

The INFINITI® Resolve QUAD Assay individually identifies Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus spp., Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata in samples onboard the automated molecular diagnostics platform, the INFINITI System. Utilizing high-performance TSA chemistry with the multiplexed BioFilmChip®, the assay can simultaneously process up to four discrete samples on the same microarray. The other expanded panels that can be used in tandem with INFINITI Resolve QUAD on the INFINITI platform are the INFINITI Bacterial Vaginosis QUAD and the INFINITI Candida Plus QUAD assays. These assays are currently available for research use only; not for use in diagnostic procedures. AutoGenomics

Gram-positive blood culture test

The Verigene® Gram-Positive Blood Culture Nucleic Acid (BC-GP) Test (510(k) cleared; CE Mark), is a multiplexed, automated test for genus- and species-level identification of the most common causes of gram-positive bacterial bloodstream infections with corresponding genetic resistance determinant detection (the mecA, vanA, and vanB genes). The BC-GP test provides bacterial identification and susceptibility results within 2.5 hours of blood culture positivity.  The Verigene System’s instrumentation allows for true random access test processing, enabling 24/7 on-demand testing directly from positive blood culture bottles with less than 5 minutes of hands-on time per test.  Nanosphere, Inc.

QC products

You’ve consolidated your Infectious Disease test methodologies. Have you done the same for its QC?  With VIROTROL® QC products, a laboratory using a typical automated instrument for hepatitis testing can reduce the number of controls from 12 to 4. Laboratories no longer have to settle for single analyte, reagent kit controls. This line of infectious disease quality control products—multi-analyte controls—offers the benefit of consolidation on a variety of analytical platforms and methodologies. It has a three-year shelf life. Bio-Rad Laboratories

Detect 14 respiratory virus types and subtypes

The GenMark Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) uses innovative eSensor® technology to provide sensitive and specific respiratory virus detection and subtyping with an optimized workflow to maximize laboratory efficiency. The eSensor RVP offers comprehensive detection of 14 respiratory virus types and subtypes to drive informed clinical decisions. It features more than 3.5 hours of walk-away time and is scalable to meet peak demand. GenMark Dx

Antimicrobial stewardship initiative

The Test Target Treat™ initiative empowers healthcare professionals to make targeted treatment decisions sooner with rapid diagnostics by supplying a comprehensive set of diagnostic information. The initiative encourages a shift in treatment trends, moving away from the broad over-prescription of antibiotics, which spawned the growing prevalence of serious healthcare-associated infections like MRSA, toward more targeted therapy. Alere offers a rapid diagnostic to enable practitioners to distinguish between respiratory tract infections that require treatment and those that are self-limiting as well as several other diagnostic tools to help clinicians identify pathogens at the point of care and define an appropriate treatment strategy earlier. These include solutions for Strep A, Influenza, S. pneumoniae, MRSA, and C. difficile. Alere

Sample to answer assay

Simplexa® Flu A/B & RSV Direct is a real-time RT-PCR assay that is truly sample to answer—  patient samples are loaded directly on to the 8-well Direct Amplification Disc without the need for extraction. Influenza A, influenza B, and RSV can be detected and differentiated in about an hour. The assay is designed for use on the 3M™ Integrated Cycler, a scalable, real-time PCR instrument that uses less than one square foot of laboratory bench space. Laboratories can set up a run in three easy steps: 1) SCAN the assay definition, reagent barcode, disc barcode, and patient ID; 2) PIPETTE reaction mix and sample into the appropriate well; 3) START the run after loading disc onto the 3M™ Integrated Cycler. Focus Diagnostics, Inc.