USA —BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has introduced the BD FACSDuet premium sample preparation system, an advanced automated instrument designed to streamline sample preparation for clinical diagnostics using flow cytometry.
This innovative system employs liquid-handling robotics to automate various sample preparation tasks for in-vitro diagnostics and user-defined tests, such as cocktailing, washing, and centrifuging.
It then seamlessly transfers the prepared samples to the BD FACSLyric clinical flow cytometry system without the need for human interaction.
By integrating with the flow cytometer, the BD FACSDuet premium system offers a “walkaway” workflow solution that reduces manual steps, optimizes resource utilization, and minimizes user hands-on time.
Flow cytometry plays a vital role in clinical diagnostics and is commonly utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including cancer.
Flow cytometry is a technique that employs lasers as light sources to detect and analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of particles or cells.
It utilizes various fluorescent reagents, such as DNA binding dyes, fluorescent expression proteins, and viability dyes, among others.
The technique finds extensive applications in multiple areas of medical science, including infectious disease monitoring, immunology, and virology.
According to The Lancet Commission on Diagnostics’ 2021 report, better access to diagnostics is crucial for addressing three major global health priorities: universal health coverage, antimicrobial resistance, and global health security.
However, the significance of diagnostic tests in ensuring quality and equitable healthcare is often overlooked, resulting in underfunding, poor coordination with disease control efforts, and insufficient resources at all levels.
In recent news, BD held a grand opening ceremony for its new €4 million (US$4.3 million) research and development facility in Blackrock, Dublin.
Additionally, the company announced a further investment of €30 million (US$32.5 million) to expand its Enniscothy, Wexford manufacturing facility.
In another development, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) recently obtained 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the BD Vaginal Panel, a diagnostic test that detects common types of infectious vaginitis using the BD COR System.
This comprehensive test, powered by BD’s high-throughput molecular diagnostic platform, directly detects the three most prevalent infectious causes of vaginitis.
The BD Vaginal Panel represents the first microbiome-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay capable of simultaneously identifying organisms associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) using a single swab.
Following testing, the panel provides a clear positive or negative result for each condition in the generated report.
The BD Vaginal Panel is the third assay available for use on the BD COR System in the US. The first assay is the BD Onclarity HPV assay, an FDA-approved test for human papillomavirus (HPV) that identifies and reports HPV genotypes, including HPV 16, 18, and 31.
The second assay is the BD CTGCTV2 molecular assay, which tests for the three most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) using a single sample.
Positioned as the only high-throughput, fully integrated preanalytical and analytical system available, the BD COR System offers enhanced patient management and laboratory operations, granting access to critical women’s health and STI testing.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
