Focus Diagnostics Inc, Cypress, Calif, the infectious disease diagnostics business of Quest Diagnostics, announced that its Simplexa™ Direct Chemistry technology won a bronze award in the in vitro diagnostics category at the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA) awards ceremony held May 23. Focus Diagnostics manufactures the Simplexa™ Direct line of molecular test products for use on the 3M™ Integrated Cycler.
This marks the third accolade for the Simplexa/3M technology since its 2009 marketplace debut. In 2011, the Simplexa/3M technology won a bronze Edison Award for new science and medical diagnostic product, based on criteria that included technological innovation and marketplace success, and a gold MDEA award for in vitro diagnostic innovation.
The MDEA competition recognizes advances in the design of medical products. Presented by UBM Canon, MDEA award winners are selected by an impartial jury on criteria that include design and engineering features that improve healthcare delivery, innovative use of materials and components, and functional innovations that change traditional medical attitudes or practices or offer significant use-related improvements.
Simplexa tests run on the 3M Integrated Cycler, a compact, portable testing platform which can provide test results in as few as 60 minutes. In 2012, Simplexa C.difficile Universal Direct and Simplexa Flu A/B & RSV Direct were both FDA cleared. In May 2010, Simplexa was the first test kit to be FDA cleared for aiding in the detection and differentiation of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Several other Simplexa branded tests, including Dengue, Epstein Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus and BK viruses, are CE marked and distributed in Europe.
