Netherlands-based Qiagen has partnered with Italian in-vitro diagnostics firm DiaSorin to offer its QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus latent tuberculosis (TB) detection test on LIAISON family platforms.
Customers of both the firms will now be able to process the fourth-generation test through a fully automated, flexible workflow on LIAISON analyser systems.
The firms are also considering the adoption of other QuantiFERON technology-based assays, which are designed to identify risks such as asymptomatic infections, onto LIAISON platforms.
QuantiFERON assays contain Blood Collection Tubes for conducting the test reaction following blood collection, along with test read-out components to measure interferon gamma release after incubation.
Under the collaboration, the firms will develop a fully automated version of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test, and any additional tests that would be adapted for future use.
Qiagen CEO Peer Schatz said: “We are pleased to partner with DiaSorin and create a compelling fully automated solution for our QuantiFERON-TB test, and plans for this to be followed by more QuantiFERON-based tests in the future.
“QuantiFERON customers will benefit from a best-in-class, random access, continuous loading, and fully automated workflow with QuantiFERON assays embedded in a full menu of assays.
“Together, we can drive faster conversion of latent TB testing, estimated at more than 65 million tests annually, and improve the lives of people around the world at risk for this potentially fatal disease.”
The firms expect to introduce the new CE-Marked QuantiFERON read-out components for use on LIAISON XL in the third quarter of this year, with plans for US launch in 2019 and China in 2020.
Customers could purchase the QuantiFERON Blood Collection Tube kit from Qiagen for use on LIAISON family systems, while DiaSorin will develop and commercialise the QuantiFERON read-out test components.
