Automated PCR Platform Increases Productivity of Clinical Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories

An automated real-time PCR platform that has been certified for diagnostics use in Europe (CE-marked) has demonstrated the potential to dramatically improve productivity and turnaround times in the clinical laboratory.

The Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Nyon, Switzerland) DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System integrates sample introduction, nucleic acid extraction, reaction setup, real-time PCR amplification and detection (using Roche [Basel, Switzerland] TaqMan chemistry), and results interpretation for a fully streamlined workflow. This system offers some important workflow advantages compared to current methods for the determination of viral loads for HIV-1, HCV, HBV, and CMV. For example, the DxN VERIS system allows continuous loading of samples, which eliminates the need for batching and, with true, single sample random access, it allows urgent samples to be added at any time.

As a fully automated system, DxN VERIS decreases the potential for human error and reduces turnaround times considerably compared to the current methods, which allows much faster reporting of results to service users. Unlike current methods, technicians are not required to pipette samples and reagents, which is an important ergonomic advantage. By reducing manual time requirements it enables laboratories to achieve the most from existing staffing levels, helping to maximize productivity within the laboratory.

A case study conducted at the department of clinical microbiology of the University of Barcelona School of Medicine (Spain) demonstrated that the DxN VERIS workflow involved far fewer steps, particularly during the preanalytical stage. It also highlighted the system's reduced hands-on time and lower demand for consumables.

Dr. Jordi Vila, head of the department of clinical microbiology at the University of Barcelona School of Medicine, said, “The implementation of automated methodologies, such as the DxN VERIS, has the potential to improve the quality and delivery of virology services and, for patients, it allows infectious disease results to be obtained at the earliest opportunity with high sensitivity and specificity. In addition to this, consolidation of extraction, amplification, and detection onto a single platform is considered an important factor for laboratories, like ours, where space is very limited.”

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Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
Roche
University of Barcelona School of Medicine