Laboratory instrument maker Thermo Fisher Scientific has rolled out its CE-IVD marked TaqPath Enteric Bacterial Select Panel to detect common gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria.
The panel is also designed to aid clinicians to locate the source of infection and administer the best possible treatments for the patients rapidly.
According to the firm, the TaqPath Enteric Bacterial Select Panel was validated and registered under IVDD in May this year.
Thermo Fisher said that the new test makes use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to analyse the stool samples.
The panel can be used to identify a range of common GI bacteria including Salmonella spp., Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella spp./enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and Campylobacter upsaliensis.
In about two hours, TaqPath Enteric Bacterial Select Panel can deliver results with more than 98% sensitivity and specificity, whereas culturing samples in labs can take up to two weeks for the results, the lab instrument maker said.
Thermo Fisher genetic testing solutions senior medical director Manoj Gandhi said: “The TaqPath Enteric Bacterial Select Panel’s ability to identify and differentiate between the most common diarrhea-causing pathogens will make testing more accessible and provide laboratorians with more agility when identifying GI bacteria.
“Detecting these different pathogens in a single test can preserve precious lab resources while still providing clinicians critical information needed to make the right treatment decisions for their patients.”
The firm said the testing using the TaqPath Enteric Bacterial Select Panel can be done in a single test tube. The test can be scaled up to match the demands of the lab by allowing up to 93 samples to be evaluated at once.
The findings from the samples are automatically generated and interpreted when performed on Thermo Fisher’s QuantStudio 5 and QuantStudio 5 Dx systems. This frees up laboratorian’s time for other activities, Thermo Fisher said.
In August this year, the company received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its ImmunoCAP Specific IgE (sIgE) Allergen Components for wheat and sesame allergies for in vitro diagnostic use.
