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Qiagen says the respiratory panel is the first test in a deep and broad pipeline of planned assays for QIAstat-Dx in the U.S. It plans to launch a gastrointestinal panel later this year.

The following pathogens and subtypes are identified using the QIAstat-Dx respiratory panel: adenovirus; coronaviruses 229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43; human metapneumovirus A+B; influenza A, A H1, A H3, A H1N1/pdm09, B; parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3, 4; rhinovirus/enterovirus; RSV A+B; and Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

TV/MG test added to Cobas 6800/8800 menu

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the Cobas TV/MG test for use on the Cobas 6800/8800 systems for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and/or Mycoplasma genitalium DNA in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Laboratories can now simultaneously process from a single sample a combination of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium.

In other news, Roche announced the CE-IVD launch of the Cobas MTB-RIF/INH test to detect resistance to antibiotics within tuberculosis DNA. This assay is part of the mycobacteria test menu that includes the Cobas MTB and Cobas MAI tests for use on the 6800/8800 systems.

Abbott, DoD, and TRACK-TBI study point-of-care blood test for concussions

Abbott announced the next phase of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and researchers from the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) Network. Together the groups will conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an Abbott point-of-care blood test technology that is under development to help clinicians assess brain injuries within minutes.

Abbott and the DoD began their work in 2014 to develop a portable blood test that helps assess concussions at a person’s side. Abbott has more than 120 scientists who are researching and developing its concussion assessment test for the next-generation i-Stat Alinity system. The blood test under development would measure two types of proteins—GFAP and UCH-L1—that are released from the brain and into the blood when the brain is injured.

A critical part of the TRACK-TBI research initiative is to evaluate the effectiveness of blood-based biomarkers to detect brain injury. Abbott and the DoD will work with researchers from TRACK-TBI for this clinical trial to analyze data collected from patients who come to top trauma centers across the country.

TRACK-TBI Network is a collaborative research effort funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the DoD through U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, with support from private and philanthropic partners.