Qiagen N.V. (NYSE: QGEN) has rolled out QIAstat-Dx Rise which is a high-capacity version of the QIAstat-Dx automated syndromic system. The company also revealed that the menu of tests for the completely integrated one-step molecular testing system, which offers findings in an hour, had been expanded.
The debut of QIAstat-Dx Rise follows the award of European CE-marking, which enhances QIAGEN's syndromic testing capability, which is becoming an increasingly useful tool in lab settings to screen for numerous infections simultaneously from a single sample. The company believed that with the launch of the QIAstat-Dx Rise syndromic testing platform, higher-demand medical facilities may now get automated, comprehensive pathogen testing.
The CE-marked QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel has been updated to include testing for Chlamydophila pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes respiratory illnesses that can mimic influenza symptoms. This panel can currently identify and distinguish between 23 viral and bacterial targets that cause respiratory illnesses. While C. pneumoniae usually produces a minor sickness, it can have serious consequences in high-risk populations, such as the elderly.
New improvements for better specimen processing and panel performance have been added to the CE-marked QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel 2. This panel could be used to identify and differentiate between 22 viral, bacterial, and parasite gastrointestinal illness targets. The STEC target on the panel, for example, indicates the toxin content (stx1 and stx2). This information can be utilized to determine the risk of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in specific patient demographics, allowing for proper patient monitoring.
Additionally, QIAGEN has introduced a software update for the QIAstat-Dx Analyzer that improves the security, usability, and connectivity of the device. Users can now configure their devices to undergo obligatory External Quality Control tests thanks to the release of software version 1.5.1. The new software complements the QIAsphere cloud-based connectivity solution, which improves QIAstat-digital Dx's diagnostics capabilities.
Furthermore, the QIAstat-Dx Rise and its test cartridges form a closed system for sample preparation and processing without the need for human intervention. It can offer diagnostic findings for up to 56 tests in an eight-hour shift and 160 tests per day, thanks to its random-access capacity of up to 18 different tests. QIAstat-Dx Rise is a configurable new option for expanded testing capacity that builds on the previous QIAstat-Dx Analyzer with up to four analytical modules.