Luminex has announced that norovirus will be the fourth assay in the launch menu for its new sample-to-answer system, ARIES.

The assay is designed to test for both GI and GII genogroups in a single, easy-to-use cassette. The previously announced items in the five assay launch menu targeted for the ARIES system also include: Flu A&B/RSV, HSV 1 and 2, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

Luminex president and CEO Patrick J Balthrop noted that Norovirus can be a very serious illness especially for the very young, the elderly and those that are immunocompromised.

"Because our new ARIES assays are being developed with a universal protocol, allowing laboratories to quickly run C. diff and norovirus at the same time, more rapid patient management techniques can be implemented to stem potentially costly outbreak situations and improve patient care," Balthrop added.

Luminex was the first company to commercialize an FDA cleared norovirus test as a part of its comprehensive syndromic xTAG gastrointestinal pathogen panel (GPP).

Luminex will soon be the first company to offer multiplexed molecular panels such as GPP as well as rapid, sample-to-answer testing with the introduction of its new ARIES system and menu of assays. This combination will provide hospital labs and their clinicians with the most comprehensive suite of tools available to help manage patients with diarrheal disease.

Luminex will feature its new ARIES System at the Clinical Virology Symposium (CVS), 27 April to 30 April 2014 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Additionally, during CVS they will host a workshop on 28 April 2014, demonstrating the value of xTAG GPP for community-acquired diarrhea, and the burden of norovirus in the hospital setting.