Becton Dickinson ($BDX) is rolling out a next-generation diagnostic device that can quickly detect certain diseases including the flu. The company’s move comes as flu season begins and taps into a large market.
BD is touting its wireless BD Veritor Plus System as easier to use and more efficient than current diagnostics. The device can identify influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group A strep within minutes while a patient is still on site, the company said in a statement, offering an advantage over other tools which take longer to process results.
The new Veritor Plus System could also be less cumbersome for medical professionals. The device has a documentation feature that includes user ID, specimen ID and test kit lot, which makes results more traceable, the company said.
A cloud connectivity feature allows doctors and other professionals to wirelessly transfer test data to a patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) or to a laboratory information system (LIS). The technology could cut down on errors associated with manual transcription of results, all while streamlining workflows.
BD’s new diagnostic addresses prevalent health issues in the U.S. Millions of people get the flu in the country each year. About 20% to 30% of sore throats in the U.S. are caused by group A strep, and most children will have RSV by the time they are two years old, the company said.
"As we are on the cusp of the flu season, it is critical that providers have the diagnostic tools they need to assist them in quickly and accurately identifying infectious diseases, like flu, RSV and strep and in assigning treatment protocols," Dave Hickey, president of Diagnostic Systems at BD, said in a statement. "The BD Veritor Plus System's ability to provide reliable test results and wirelessly transfer them to health records could ultimately lead to better outcomes through rapid detection and simplified workflow."