As a cyclospora outbreak continues to spread throughout the United States, Roche, in collaboration with subsidiary TIB MOLBIOL, has made available two new flexible and cost-effective research PCR testing options for labs to address the public health impact of the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite.
Food and waterborne parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis can cause serious gastrointestinal illness such as severe diarrhoea, fatigue and cramping and can place pressure on local emergency rooms.
Roche is committed to advancing global health security by equipping healthcare systems with the tools they need to better detect and manage infectious diseases and other emerging threats to public health.
Its comprehensive suite of tests helps identify and manage some of the world’s most challenging infectious diseases, from hepatitis and HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and respiratory illnesses like influenza and tuberculosis, to diseases spread by insects such as dengue and malaria, and infections passed from mother to baby, like rubella.
Last month, Roche developed a RUO molecular PCR test within six days to detect the rare Ebola Bundibugyo virus and to support response efforts in Central and East Africa.
The two new tests are used with the Light Cycler 480 and LightCycler PRO instruments. The LightMix Modular Cyclospora assay (for research use only, or RUO) is for the specific detection of cyclospora only using hydrolysis probe chemistry.
The LightMix OneTube Gastro Para 2 assay (RUO) includes multiplex, real-time PCR detection of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, Dientamoeba fragilis, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis and Cyclospora cayetanensis. These complement an existing assay, UC-TIB-Gastro-PARA-2 (RUO), a multiplex, real-time PCR test for high-throughput research, detecting Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocystis hominis and Cyclospora cayetanensis in a single reaction. It is used with the cobas 5800, 6800 and 8800 systems.
