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
ZeptoMetrix an Antylia scientific company

Download Mobile App




World’s First Low-Cost, High-Throughput, Near-Patient Molecular Diagnostic Test System Dramatically Reduces Wait Times

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Feb 2024

It is important for doctors to rapidly and accurately identify prevalent respiratory pathogens like COVID-19, influenza A and B, RSV-A, and RSV-B for administering prompt, tailored treatment to infected individuals. More...

In a significant advancement, a near-patient test system using automation technology detects pathogens with unrivaled speed and cuts the typical waiting time of 24 to 48 hours to just one to two hours without the need for expensive biosafe laboratories.

Fast MDx Limited (Middlesex, UK) and Festo (London, UK) have jointly designed and developed the world’s first, low-cost, high-throughput, near-patient molecular diagnostic test system that will provide clinicians with earlier, more informed results, allowing each patient to receive a faster, personalized clinical pathway. The Fast MDx system comprises everything necessary for testing, including sample tubes, swabs, and even electronic result transmission to the originating hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. The system incorporates Fast MDx’s latest, ultra-fast, NGx2 4-Channel qPCR thermal cycler and Reverse Transcription block technology. The Fast MDx platform aspirates the sample through the cap of Fast MDx’s patented Pathtubes and so requires no manual sample handling or preparation steps. The Fast MDx platform employs Festo’s automation technology for precise pipetting and dispensing, streamlining the testing process. This saves considerable time for technicians and minimizes the potential for human error in manual pipetting tasks.

The platform is fully automated, portable, and requires just one technician for operation, in contrast to the usual five needed in a central lab to process up to 1,000 samples in an 8-hour shift. Designed for ease of mobility, the system can traverse standard doorways and elevators, resting on four sturdy, lockable casters. Its near-patient functionality allows it to be deployed in diverse settings such as test centers, hospitals, or pathology labs. Equipped with advanced cybersecurity features, Fast MDx integrates seamlessly with major Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). Fast MDx will launch in early 2024 and will perform high-throughput, syndromic, respiratory testing for flu A, flu B, RSV A, RSV B, and COVID-19. Future additions to the test menu include healthcare acquired infections (HAI) such as testing for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), surgical site infections (SSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).


Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer
iUF118-GX
New
Benchtop Cooler
PCR-Cooler & PCR-Rack
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: The GlycoLocate platform uses multi-omics and advanced computational biology algorithms to diagnose early-stage cancers (Photo courtesy of AOA Dx)

AI-Powered Blood Test Accurately Detects Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Although over 90% of women exhibit symptoms in Stage I, only 20% are diagnosed in... 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: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI-analyzed images from the FDM microscope show platelet clumps in motion (Photo courtesy of Hirose et al CC-BY-ND)

AI Microscope Spots Deadly Blood Clots Before They Strike

Platelets are small blood cells that act as emergency responders in the body, rushing to areas of injury to help stop bleeding by forming clots. However, sometimes platelets can overreact, leading to complications.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The new algorithms can help predict which patients have undiagnosed cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Advanced Predictive Algorithms Identify Patients Having Undiagnosed Cancer

Two newly developed advanced predictive algorithms leverage a person’s health conditions and basic blood test results to accurately predict the likelihood of having an undiagnosed cancer, including ch... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.