Hologic Inc, Marlborough, Mass, has obtained approval from Health Canada for its new Panther Fusion system and assays for respiratory virus infections. The Fusion module enables laboratories to extend the testing capabilities of the existing Panther system.

The Panther Fusion module is an in-lab upgrade to the Panther instrument that makes multiple chemistries available on a single platform to consolidate lab testing. Users benefit from the flexibility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as the proven performance of transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) already used by the Panther system. The upgraded system retains all the benefits of the Panther platform, including fully automated sample-to-result automation, multiple tests from a single sample, random access sample processing, continuous loading, and stat capabilities.

Tom West, Hologic.

In addition, the system offers a higher throughput of up to 335 Panther Fusion tests or up to 500 Fusion and Aptima tests in 8 hours. The addition of open access functionality to run laboratory-developed tests and protocols improves flexibility and enables laboratories to concentrate on developing assays while the system automates workflow and reduces overall hands-on time.

“We’re delighted to receive approval from Health Canada for the Panther Fusion system, the latest innovation from our diagnostics division. This system creates an integrated workflow that provides our customers with enhanced flexibility and increased efficiency,” says Tom West, president of the diagnostic solutions division at Hologic. “Three new assays for flu and respiratory infections also were approved, which extend the range of diagnostics tests that laboratories can run on one Hologic system. Hologic’s flu and respiratory assays enable customers to run only the targets requested for a patient, allowing for personalized testing and helping control costs.”

The Panther Fusion product line now includes three PCR-based flu and respiratory assays that facilitate a modular approach to syndromic testing, with the ability to run one, two, or all three assays from a single patient specimen, depending on the needs of a given patient.

  • Flu A/B/RSV: differentiates between influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
  • Paraflu: differentiates between parainfluenza 1 virus, parainfluenza 2 virus, parainfluenza 3 virus, and parainfluenza 4 virus.
  • AdV/hMPV/RV: differentiates between adenovirus (AdV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and rhinovirus (RV).

The PCR-based Panther Fusion assays, combined with the Aptima TMA assays, make the Panther Fusion system the only instrument to combine TMA, real-time TMA, and real-time PCR with full sample-to-result automation.

To learn more, visit Hologic.