Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




5-Minute Multiplex PCR Testing System to Redefine Point-Of-Care Diagnostics

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 Aug 2024

Point of care (POC) testing provides significant clinical benefits, particularly when results can be obtained quickly enough to inform clinical decisions during a single consultation, eliminating the need for follow-up visits. More...

Such rapid diagnostics can significantly reduce costs by minimizing both the number of patient-clinician interactions required for diagnosis and treatment decisions and the need for patients to make multiple trips to the healthcare facility for a single episode of illness. Typically, POC molecular diagnostic tests can produce results within about an hour. Now, a low-cost instrument aims to redefine POC diagnostics by delivering molecular tests at the time they are most needed.

LEX Diagnostics (Melbourn, UK) is developing a PCR molecular system that offers both high speed and high sensitivity, capable of completing a test in less than 10 minutes and reporting positive results in as little as 5 minutes. This ensures that results are available quickly enough to impact clinical decisions within the same appointment. The LEX system is designed around a cartridge that receives a dry swab and conducts all necessary sample preparation, processing, and analysis internally, without the need for manual sample elution or other preparatory steps. This design not only speeds up the process but also confines all sample handling within the system, reducing the manual effort required and minimizing the exposure risk for healthcare workers.

The device's ability to provide rapid yet sensitive PCR testing is facilitated by innovative thermal cycling technology and proprietary LEX reagents. Unlike traditional systems that rely on Peltier devices, which can be costly and less reliable, LEX’s patented thermal cycler technology allows for extremely quick heating and cooling, maintaining precise thermal control. This capability ensures that enzyme-driven amplification processes are optimized for speed without sacrificing sensitivity, making rapid PCR diagnostics feasible at the POC. The LEX system is suitable for settings with a CLIA waiver, including urgent care centers, pharmacies, and physician offices.

The LEX system is capable of delivering positive results in just 5 minutes and can perform multiplex testing to identify and differentiate between Flu A, Flu B, and COVID-19. Negative results are delivered in under 10 minutes. LEX is also planning to expand its range of respiratory tests to include rapid assays for RSV and Strep A, which are expected to be completed in about 5 minutes. With the development of its second-generation instrument, LEX aims to add testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to its portfolio.

Related Links:
LEX Diagnostics


Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Human Estradiol Assay
Human Estradiol CLIA Kit
New
Gold Member
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
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

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study has linked blood proteins to Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Could Detect Proteins Linked to Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Loss

Alzheimer’s disease has long been associated with sticky amyloid plaques in the brain, but these markers alone do not fully explain the memory loss and cognitive decline patients experience.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: An adult fibrosarcoma case report has shown the importance of early diagnosis and targeted therapy (Photo courtesy of Sultana and Sailaja/Oncoscience)

Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma

Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.