Roche receives USFDA clearance with CLIA waiver for cobas liat sexually transmitted infection multiplex assay panels

“Rapid molecular point-of-care testing can revolutionise the clinical management of STIs in decentralised and community-based healthcare settings, enabling informed treatment strategies, better health outcomes for patients, and contain further spread by providing timely diagnosis.” said Matt Sause, CEO Roche Diagnostics.

More than 1 million people worldwide acquire an STI every day. Common STIs often present overlapping symptoms and can frequently be asymptomatic, making diagnosis challenging, when relying solely on symptoms. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are among the most prevalent STIs. If untreated, these infections can lead to serious health complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), urethritis, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and an increased risk of HIV infection.1 Additionally, Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen affecting both males and females, with untreated infections resulting in severe health issues such as PID and infertility.

The cobas liat CT/NG and cobas liat CT/NG/MG STI assay tests further expand and complement Roche’s broad portfolio of lab-level solutions to help diagnose and address patients’ needs at the point of care. The test-to-treat approach can help combat potentially high loss to follow-up rates, making treatment more likely. Testing at the point of care can help reduce unnecessary antibiotic usage, facilitate targeted treatment strategies, improve healthcare efficiency and cost, and ultimately enhance the patients’ short and long-term health outcomes.

The cobas liat system utilises gold-standard PCR technology to provide results in 20 minutes or less. The cobas liat assays are CLIA waived*, enabling healthcare professionals to perform molecular testing in a variety of near-patient settings with speed, reliability and minimal training. The cobas liat system is a closed system, reducing contamination risks and enhancing the reliability of results. The cobas liat CT/NG and CT/NG/MG assays complement existing tests for the cobas liat system. These include singleplex and multiplex assays for a variety of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, Strep A., and C. diff. These assays are easily added to a testing programme by connecting the cobas liat system to cobas infinity edge to remotely schedule software and assay script updates, and to provide remote troubleshooting in all patient-care settings. Connected cobas liat instruments streamline testing workflow and reduce instrument maintenance time. Assays for other infectious diseases are currently in development. The cobas liat system is commercially available in select markets.