New FluoroType Mycobacteria PCR assay detects the mycobacteria complex and differentiates 32 clinically relevant mycobacteria species from culture, using LiquidArray multiplex PCR technology

FluoroCycler_XT

FluoroCycler XT. (Credit: Business Wire)

Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) announces further advances in its market-leading MALDI Biotyper (MBT) platform, and launches new multiplex PCR infectious disease assays that are based on its proprietary LiquidArray technology.

Bruker further expands its mycobacteria portfolio with the FluoroType Mycobacteria PCR assay, launched on the high-precision FluoroCycler XT thermocycler. FluoroType Mycobacteria uses powerful LiquidArray technology to differentiate 31 clinically relevant non-tuberculous mycobacteria and the M. tuberculosis complex from cultures in a single test. This further expands Bruker´s broad portfolio in tuberculosis and mycobacteria, including identification, differentiation and antibiotic resistance testing.

Bruker also leverages its LiquidArray® technology for the FluoroType® STI PCR assay, which detects 9 targets from 7 sexually transmitted pathogens from clinical samples in a single test. This assay provides confident Neisseria gonorrhoea and Chlamydia trachomatis detection of two independent genes for both species, in a workflow suitable for clinical laboratories. FluoroType® STI is validated on the GenoXtract® extraction system and the Fluorocycler® XT thermocycler.

Mr. Fernando Vazquez, MD/PhD, Head of the Laboratory of Medicine and Head of the Service of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, in Oviedo, Spain commented: “Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a significant healthcare problem that can cause serious complications for affected people. Syndromic testing is advantageous to prevent the spread of STI causing pathogens and to help guide appropriate treatment. Bruker’s FluoroType® STI assay, using LiquidArray® technology, covers seven STI-causing pathogens in a single tube with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae each covered by two independent gene targets. Based on the performance in our laboratory, the use of FluoroType® STI to detect sexually transmitted pathogens in the daily routine of a Service of Microbiology is highly recommended.”

Dr. Wolfgang Pusch, President of Bruker Microbiology & Diagnostics, added: “With the launch of two new LiquidArray® assays we continue to introduce disruptive innovation in clinical microbiology and infectious disease testing. LiquidArray® multiplex real-time PCR is a cost-effective, second-generation syndromic panel format for clinical laboratories. FluoroType® STI brings broad coverage of LiquidArray® technology to STI testing. FluoroType® Mycobacteria expands our WHO-endorsed mycobacteria portfolio and demonstrates impressive LiquidArray® multiplexing. Both assays provide a broad set of results from a single tube for greater clinical confidence.”

The MALDI Biotyper sirius IVD system supports workflows for rapid, nearly universal and cost-effective microbial identification by proteomic fingerprinting from culture plates, as well as from positive blood cultures. New MBT Compass® HT IVD software provides even higher sample throughput for the MALDI Biotyper as the fastest MALDI system for microbial identification with system time-to-result of ~5 minutes for 96 samples spots, also enabling multi-instrument support. High-throughput labs can now identify up to 600 samples/hour/instrument.

IVD-CE labelled MALDI Biotyper Reference Libraries have been enhanced further, as the standard MBT IVD Library has been expanded by 393 new species and now covers 4,194 species. It can be complemented by the MBT Mycobacteria IVD Module covering 182 Mycobacterium species, and the MBT IVD Library Extension covering five highly pathogenic species. Altogether, the IVD MALDI Biotyper® provides nearly universal identification capabilities for 4,381 species, consisting of more than 12,000 very high-quality and carefully curated reference entries.

Source: Company Press Release