We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Visby Medical

Visby Medical is transforming the order of diagnosis and treatment for infectious diseases so clinicians can test, ta... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Portable Rapid PCR Diagnostic to Detect Gonorrhea and Antibiotic Susceptibility

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Feb 2024

Gonorrhea, ranked as the second most reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), affected approximately 82 million people globally in 2020. More...

The infection can lead to severe health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Untreated gonorrhea may progress to the bloodstream, posing a life-threatening risk and increasing the likelihood of HIV infection. Many cases go unreported due to asymptomatic patients, implying that the actual burden of the disease may be significantly higher. Now, a rapid test aims to identify gonorrhea and also determine its antibiotic susceptibility.

Visby Medical (San Jose, CA, USA) has been awarded up to USD 1.8 million by CARB-X (Boston, MA, USA) for the development of a portable rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic to identify the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), the pathogen responsible for gonorrhea, and ascertain its susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin was once a primary oral antibiotic for treating NG but has become less effective due to resistance. A rapid result indicating when ciprofloxacin may be effective would allow physicians to treat gonorrhea with greater confidence, reserving ceftriaxone for cases resistant to NG. Visby is renowned for its rapid and precise PCR testing capabilities for STIs, as well as COVID-19 and the flu. The funding from CARB-X will assist Visby in advancing to the next phase of development to address the pressing challenges in today's healthcare system.

Besides the development of a rapid test for NG and its susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, the funding will help Visby develop a test for NG as well as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) in men based on urine samples. Visby currently offers a second-generation Sexual Health Test for the three most prevalent STIs in women, which is 510(k) cleared and has received a CLIA waiver from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Further CARB-X funding will be allocated in separate phases, contingent upon achieving specific project milestones, covering feasibility testing and development for antimicrobial resistance and male STI testing applications.

“The sexually transmitted infections epidemic continues to increase. That is why healthcare providers in ERs, urgent care clinics, community health centers and physicians’ offices need accurate and rapid diagnostic tests to enable same-visit, data-driven treatment based on a test result that identifies the pathogen and its antibiotic susceptibility," said Gary Schoolnik, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Visby Medical. “The CARB-X award will allow Visby Medical to enhance the only instrument-free PCR platform by adding the capacity to detect ciprofloxacin-resistant gonorrhea immediately and at the point-of-care. This has the potential to redefine best practice for patient care, infection control, and antibiotic stewardship.”“Our goal is to deliver diagnostics that are effective at all levels of the healthcare system,” added Erin Duffy, PhD, R&D Chief of CARB-X. “Given the portability of the envisioned Visby Medical PCR platform, which fits in the palm of your hand, we see this as rapidly and highly deployable in low-resourced and hard-to-reach settings. Additionally, for regions where ciprofloxacin remains a viable treatment, the Visby Medical diagnostic gives confidence that the physician is making the correct treatment decision.”

 


Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
See-Saw Rocking Shaker
SH-200D-S-L
New
Francisella Tularensis Test
TULAREMIA VIRCLIA IgG+IgM MONOTEST
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Ear wax could be a possible screening medium for Parkinson’s disease (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Earwax Test Accurately Detects Parkinson’s by Identifying Odor Molecules

Current tests for Parkinson’s disease (PD) rely heavily on clinical scales and neuroimaging, which are often subjective, expensive, and ill-suited for routine screening. Since most treatments only slow... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Cord blood proteomics can identify biomarkers of early-onset neonatal sepsis (Photo courtesy of JCI Insight (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.193826)

Umbilical Cord Blood Test Can Detect Early Sepsis in Preterm Infants

Diagnosing early onset sepsis (EOS) in preterm infants is particularly difficult due to the lack of specific clinical signs, leading to widespread use of antibiotics while awaiting culture results.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: NGS can detect one tumor cell among a million healthy cells from a simple blood sample (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

New Tool Detects Breast Cancer Relapses Five Years in Advance

Relapse detection in patients with solid tumors—particularly hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer—remains a major clinical challenge, as many patients initially respond well to treatment but later... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.