Hologic has launched a new high volume molecular testing platform Panther Trax that enables labs to increase testing volumes without any additional staff.

The company claims to have completed regulatory filings that are required to make available the new platform in various countries and regions.

Panther Trax is the latest addition to Hologic’s Panther Scalable Solutions (PSS) portfolio of products for lab automation.

The new platform is now listed as a Class I medical device with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE-marked for diagnostic use in Europe.

Panther Trax is also expected to be commercially available in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Hologic diagnostic solutions division president Kevin Thornal said: “Clinical laboratories have performed heroically, meeting unprecedented demand for close to two years now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is the job of manufacturers like Hologic to continue to innovate and enable our lab partners to accomplish more with less, ensuring they manage their workloads while responding to further potential surges in COVID testing.”

Initially launched in Europe in 2010, the Panther system provides random access and full automation for molecular testing.

It offers a broad assay menu that allows labs to consolidate molecular testing onto a single platform.

The menu includes tests for women’s health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), respiratory health, viral load and COVID-19 testing, as well as Open Access functionality for laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

The Panther Fusion system, which was launched in 2017, is designed to offer an expanded in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) menu, as well as Open Access functionality to run LDTs.

According to Hologic, Panther and Panther Fusion systems currently offer 19 FDA-cleared assays.

The company’s Panther Link enables to virtually connects multiple instruments to share data and reagents. It enables monitoring of all instrument through a centralised dashboard.

In November this year, the medical technology firm has announced the commercial launch of its new Genius Digital Diagnostics System in Europe.