Multiplex Diagnostic Test Identifies Eighteen Common Respiratory Pathogens

A multiplex-formatted diagnostic test can identify the most common viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory infections in a single reaction tube.

Eleven different respiratory RNA viruses, two DNA viruses, and five pneumonia bacteria can be identified from samples including nasopharyngeal aspirates, nasopharyngeal swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Traditional tests, such as viral culture and Ag-Ab test, are laborious, time-consuming, and relatively expensive. By enabling healthcare personnel to test for 18 different pathogens for a cost comparable to testing a single pathogen, the Seeplex 18-plex respiratory test changes the system of a ‘single pathogen, single test' testing regime and avoids the high false-positive/negative results associated with conventional multiplexing. The Seeplex 18-plex respiratory test performs multiplexing without cross-reactivity and achieves rapid test results at a minimal cost per test.

The microorganisms detected by the Seeplex test are influenza A virus; influenza B virus; human respiratory syncytial virus A; human respiratory syncytial virus B; human parainfluenzae virus 1; human parainfluenzae virus 2; human parainfluenzae virus 3; human Coronavirus 229E/Nl63; human Coronavirus OC43/HKU1; human Rhinovirus; human Enterovirus; human adenovirus; human Bocavirus; Legionella pneumophila; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Haemophilus influenzae; and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Developed by Seegene (Rockville, MD, USA), the Seeplex test is based on multiplexing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. It enables healthcare personnel to rapidly determine whether a patient's respiratory ailment is caused by a virus or bacteria, and subsequently prescribe the best course of treatment whether an antibiotic, antiviral, or bed rest.

"Our new 18-plex Respiratory Test is what the clinical healthcare industry has been asking for--the ability to routinely test for a wide spectrum of respiratory pathogens in a single test, at the price of a single pathogen test,” stated Jong-Yoon Chun, founder and CEO, Seegene. "Like our other commercially available tests, notably the recently introduced 18-plex test for human Papillomaviruses, our new respiratory test is simply performed with one multiplex PCR in a single tube and capillary electrophoresis for automated detection of pathogens. These tests use Seegene's DPO [Dual Priming Oligo] primer system, ensuring test reproducibility, specificity, and sensitivity.


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