Rapid New Test Detects Chlamydia Infection

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Feb 2016

A novel system DNA probes with bespoke electrochemical tags attached to accurately detect for infectious diseases and this system has significant benefits over existing diagnostic tests, allowing for faster results.

The World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) has estimated that 499 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) occur each year and this novel diagnostic tool, could soon be helping to win the fight against the spread of these diseases.

Image: The io system is a highly novel molecular diagnostic system for the ultra-rapid diagnosis of a broad range of infectious diseases including Sexually Transmitted Infections (Photo courtesy of Atlas Genetics Ltd.).

Image: Micrograph of a McCoy cell monolayer revealing a number of intracellular Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion bodies (arrowed); this assay is very complicated and takes a long time (Photo courtesy of the CDC - US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Atlas Genetics Ltd. (Bath, UK), the ultra-rapid Point-of-Care (POC) molecular diagnostics company, has announced that it has received approval to CE marking its Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) test to be launched on the Company’s io platform. By meeting the requirements of the in vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Directive (98/79/EC), the CT test is now cleared for sale within the European Union.

The evaluations conducted on the io CT test demonstrated that performance is equivalent to the gold standard laboratory test and will not be compromised by the transition of testing away from the central laboratory to the point-of-care (POC) setting, or by the level of experience of the operator performing the test. The benefit of the io platform is to provide a rapid result delivered immediately to the patient which has the potential to improve patient outcomes, decrease onward transmission, and reduce healthcare costs.

This is the first molecular POC test for a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) to enter the market, capable of delivering test results in just 30 minutes. With the speed and accuracy of the io CT product, the testing and treatment of patients within a single, brief visit to the clinic now becomes a reality. The Chlamydia test is the first in a pipeline of tests to be launched on the io platform. Further menu development will include tests for Gonorrhea, Trichomonas vaginalis and other STIs, for both the European and US markets. While Atlas’ commercialization strategy is initially focused on the area of sexual health, the io platform technology can be applied in a wide range of infectious disease and oncology diagnostic test areas.

John Clarkson, CEO of Atlas Genetics, said: “This is a major milestone for Atlas Genetics and marks the beginning of the next phase of growth for Atlas as we move to commercialise our first product and expand the io infectious disease menu of tests. STIs are on the rise and the faster a diagnosis can be made, the faster treatment can be given, not only benefiting the patient but also saving time and money. We believe that our io platform will play a key role in the future of STI diagnosis.”

Related Links:
World Health Organization
Atlas Genetics Ltd.