New Test Allows Simultaneous Processing of Four STDs

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 Feb 2018

A new test allows simultaneous processing of any combination of four separate sexually transmitted infections: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), from one patient sample.

Image: The cobas CT/NG test is an in vitro nucleic acid amplification test for the qualitative detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in patient specimens (Photo courtesy of Roche Molecular Diagnostics).

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world and roughly 70% of people infected with TV do not have any symptoms. Mycoplasma genitalium is a fastidious bacterium and has been associated with male and female urethritis, balanoposthitis, prostatitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and male and female infertility.

The new test cobas TV/MG (Roche, Pleasanton, CA, USA) is for use on the fully automated cobas 6800/8800 Systems that offer the fastest time to results, the highest throughput and the longest walk-away time available among automated molecular platforms, providing laboratories with improved operating efficiency and the flexibility to adapt to changing testing demands.

The cobas TV/MG offers laboratories the broadest set of specimen claims available in one test, including the ability to test for both TV and MG from one patient sample. This new flexibility can aid health care professionals in faster diagnosis and in reducing the testing volume for labs, while enabling fewer sample collections from patients. The cobas TV/MG has been validated for use with the same, full set of female urogenital specimens available for use with cobas CT/NG. In addition, the test has been validated for use with male urine and is the first CE-IVD molecular test to receive a claim for combo TV/MG testing using a meatal swab specimen.

Uwe Oberlaender, PhD, Head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics, said, “We are pleased to continue our commitment to expanding our portfolio for the detection of sexually transmitted infections. By coupling cobas TV/MG with recently launched cobas CT/NG for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), laboratories now have the most flexible, high throughput testing solution on the market today. Laboratories can now simultaneously process, from a single patient sample, any combination of CT, NG, TV and MG, which provides clinicians the valuable information they need to properly diagnosis STIs and improve patient care.”