Hologic announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance for its Panther Fusion Gastrointestinal Bacterial and Expanded Bacterial Assays, while simultaneously receiving CE marking in the European Union. These molecular diagnostic tests represent Hologic's first entry into gastrointestinal pathogen detection, targeting the most common bacterial causes of infectious gastroenteritis.
Addressing a Significant Healthcare Burden
Infectious gastroenteritis affects nearly 200 million Americans annually, with up to 3 million cases requiring ambulatory visits. The condition, caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, ranges from mild to life-threatening. In Europe, foodborne outbreaks have reached the highest numbers of related hospitalizations and deaths recorded in a decade, with Salmonella accounting for the largest proportion of cases.
Complex factors including climate change, agricultural practices, and antibiotic use may be contributing to the global prevalence of diarrheal disease, according to the company's announcement.
Comprehensive Bacterial Pathogen Coverage
The new assays detect seven common bacterial pathogens responsible for infectious gastroenteritis: Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, E. coli (including O157), Vibrio, Yersinia, and Plesiomonas. The tests can be run individually or in any combination, offering a customizable mini-panel format that allows testing to be tailored to individual patient needs.
"At Hologic, we recognize that access to a comprehensive range of accurate and fully automated diagnostic tests is essential for laboratories and their patients," said Jennifer Schneiders, Ph.D., President of Diagnostic Solutions at Hologic. "FDA clearance and CE marking of our first GI pathogen detection tests reflect our dedication to advancing diagnostic innovation, and equipping laboratories and clinicians globally with the tools they need to provide fast and informed care when time matters most."
Technological Advantages Over Traditional Methods
Traditional pathogen identification for severe diarrheal illness has required combining culture, biochemical, and microscopy-based tests, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and less sensitive than molecular methods. Hologic's molecular technology approach helps reduce testing complexity, streamline laboratory processes, and accelerate time to diagnosis and clinical management.
The customizable format supports antimicrobial stewardship by enabling judicious antibiotic use only when clinically necessary, addressing growing concerns about antibiotic resistance.
Platform Integration and Market Position
The assays operate on Hologic's established Panther Fusion System, an add-on to the company's fully automated Panther System. This molecular diagnostics platform consolidates a growing menu of assays covering women's health, sexually transmitted infections, respiratory infections, viral load, transplant viruses, and now infectious gastroenteritis.
Hologic's entry into gastrointestinal testing follows its $159 million acquisition of Diagenode in 2021, which brought more than 30 proprietary real-time polymerase chain reaction tests for gastroenteritis and other indications. The company joins other players like Qiagen, which received clearance for its QIAstat-Dx Gastrointestinal Panel 2 Mini B&V covering five gastrointestinal pathogens as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
