QIAGEN has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini test for clinical use. This marks the third test to receive FDA clearance for use with QIAstat-Dx systems in 2024, enhancing diagnostic precision in outpatient respiratory treatment.
The QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini is designed to aid clinical decision-making in diagnosing upper respiratory infections in outpatient settings. The panel covers five common viral causes of illness: influenza A, influenza B, human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2. Utilizing real-time PCR technology, the panel rapidly multiplies genetic targets, delivering results in about one hour with less than one minute of hands-on time. The system also provides cycle threshold (Ct) values and amplification curves, offering additional information for laboratories in the context of co-infections, viewable on the instrument touchscreen without additional software.
Targeted vs. Comprehensive Testing
The QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini is the second QIAstat-Dx respiratory panel to receive FDA clearance this year. While the comprehensive 21-target QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus is suited for hospitalized patients with risk factors for severe disease, the more targeted QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini offers a streamlined approach for diagnosing the five most actionable pathogens causing upper respiratory infections. This makes it a valuable tool in outpatient settings, where its efficiency can benefit a broader patient population. According to QIAGEN, the two FDA-cleared tests together effectively tackle the unique challenges clinicians encounter when diagnosing respiratory infections in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
Improving Diagnostic Stewardship
"The QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini and QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus will improve diagnostic stewardship by enabling clinicians to tailor testing to each patient's unique needs, choosing between a full, comprehensive panel or a more targeted one," said Nadia Aelbrecht, Vice President and Head of the Syndromic Testing Franchise at QIAGEN. "By streamlining the diagnostic process and delivering accurate results in about an hour for both outpatient and inpatient groups, these tests will enhance patient care, promote responsible antimicrobial stewardship and alleviate the strain on healthcare systems."
Respiratory tract infections are a significant cause of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. The CDC estimates that up to 41 million cases of influenza occur each year in the U.S., leading to several hundred thousand hospitalizations and up to 51,000 deaths.
Syndromic Testing Benefits
Syndromic tests like QIAstat-Dx have been shown to improve the detection of infections, including those involving multiple pathogens, reducing the need for additional testing. By providing fast results, syndromic testing enables healthcare providers to make informed treatment decisions and discontinue empiric antibiotic treatment when viral pathogens are detected, reducing overall antibiotic usage and supporting the goal of responsible antimicrobial stewardship.
Expanding QIAGEN's Portfolio
QIAGEN is expanding its portfolio for QIAstat-Dx in North America, with the recent launch of the QIAstat-Dx Analyzer 2.0, FDA clearance of the Gastrointestinal Panel 2 and submission for FDA clearance of the Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel. Submission for FDA clearance of the Gastrointestinal Panel Mini is planned before the end of this year. The QIAstat-Dx Analyzer 2.0 is now available in the U.S. for use with the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus and the QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel 2 and introduces the Remote Results Application, allowing users to view, comment on, and confirm diagnostic test results directly from their desktop and mobile devices.
