Microarray PCR System Detects STI Pathogens

An automated microarray-based PCR (polymerase chain reaction) system is able to detect 11 STI (sexually transmitted infection) pathogens in parallel from the same patient sample.

The EUROIMMUN AG EUROArray platform enables PCR-based detection of both manifest and silent infections, and is, therefore, suitable for diagnosis of symptomatic patients as well as for general screening. It offers a huge time advantage over cultivation and is especially useful for detecting sexually transmitted pathogens that are difficult or impossible to grow in culture.

The system works by amplifying and fluorescently labeling specific sections of pathogen DNA from patient samples in single multiplex PCR. The PCR products are then hybridized to BIOCHIP microarray slides containing immobilized complementary DNA probes and detected by their fluorescence signals. The evaluation, interpretation, and archiving of results is fully automated by EUROArrayScan software, and is thus highly standardized and objective.

The EUROArray system detects and identifies Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2.

The complete EUROArray process from sample processing to report release is IVD-validated and CE-registered.