Colibrí™ works with both bioMérieux VITEK MS and Bruker Biotyper systems, seeding either manufacturers' target plate formats, automatically applying matrix, and sends instructions and coordinates
Colibrí, COPAN’s Automated Specimen Workup Instrument. (Credit: PRNewswire/COPAN Diagnostics, Inc)
COPAN Diagnostics Inc. is proud to announce the second FDA clearance of Colibrí™, a semi-automated pre-analytical processor that is a complementary part of WASPLab®, COPAN’s full laboratory automation system.
Colibrí™ system is an in vitro fully automated specimen workup platform designed to prepare MALDI-TOF ID targets and create bacterial suspensions for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). It comprises of Colibrí™ Vision System and Colibrí™ Preparation Station. This new Colibrí™ 510(k) clearance announcement is exciting because it substantiates that fully automated culture workup for ID and AST is possible. “COPAN is committed to continue to expand the capabilities of Colibrí™ to manage other AST platforms and the Company continues to innovate to remain at the leading edge of automation for clinical microbiology,” stated Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics’ CEO and Co-Founder.
In December 2021, COPAN announced the FDA 510(k) clearance of Colibrí™ for use with MALDI-TOF MS analyzers. This same instrument has now received its second FDA 510(k) clearance for the preparation of microbial suspensions for AST with bioMérieux VITEK 2, making Colibrí™ the first instrument in its class to receive 510(k) clearance for simultaneous preparation of MALDI-TOF slides and McFarland AST suspensions.
“Clinical microbiology is facing tremendous challenges, including labor shortages, dramatically increased workloads, pressure for on-demand testing, and rapid turnaround times for results. The FDA clearance of COPAN’s Colibrí™ for MALDI and now Vitek 2 will save time and labor by automating crucial steps in diagnostic microbiology. When used with COPAN’s advanced AI software, the laboratory has total traceability and precision regarding colony selection and transfer to MALDI-TOF target slides and now AST tube preparation. Complex tasks that occur tens of thousands of times per day in microbiology laboratories require great care and attention. Such tasks are now fully automated with unquestionable accuracy. With these critical processes in laboratory workup automated and interfaced with downstream mass spectrometry instruments and Vitek 2, experienced laboratory professionals may now use their time to perform other complex tasks requiring their unique skills and expertise,” added Sharples.
The Colibrí™ system, paired with Copan’s revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) software, PhenoMATRIX®Elite with TAG, offers clinical Microbiology laboratories cutting-edge, intelligence-driven solutions for specimen workup to help streamline workflow and address the most challenging demands in the laboratory. “COPAN continues to develop robotic and AI-driven solutions for clinical laboratories as our commitment to innovating together is the heart of our Company,” concluded Sharples.
Source: Company Press Release