FIND and Cepheid have extended their partnership to include point-of-care tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, which they intend to bring to health systems throughout low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
This work will concentrate on reviewing and applying the new GeneXpert Omni system and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test from Cepheid. The partners will also determine the connectivity of the cloud-based system.
“GeneXpert Omni may be the game-changing mobile, point-of-care molecular diagnostic tool we have been looking for,” FIND CEO Catharina Boehme said. “Once we have robust evidence of GeneXpert Omni’s functioning in settings of intended use, we want to be ready to support implementation in priority countries. Our first priority is to initiate independent evaluations.”
The work will benefit the nations as well as the stakeholders. The data from the research will be available to the public as the analyst continue their projects.
“Connected point-of-care diagnostics will have a much-needed impact in remote and challenging settings in LMICs where access to diagnosis for TB and other diseases is extremely limited,” Cepheid Chairman and CEO John Bishop said. “With improved performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and the GeneXpert Omni’s unprecedented portability, molecular TB testing can go anywhere, and deliver critical, accurate and fast diagnostic test results to support disease determination, treatment initiation, and improved patient outcomes.”
