Roche launches new test for STIs in markets accepting the CE mark

Swiss pharma giant Roche launched a new test to detect the sexually transmitted infections trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and mycoplasma genitalium (MG) as part of its cobas 6800/8800 systems in markets accepting the CE mark.

The test, which the company says is the first and only of its kind on the market using metal swab specimen, adds to the previously launched platform that can detect chlamydia and gonorrhea in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

"By coupling cobas TV/MG with recently launched cobas CT/NG for the detection of chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), laboratories now have the most flexible, high throughput testing solution on the market today. Labs can now simultaneously process, from a single patient sample, any combination of CT, NG, TV and MG, which provides clinicians the valuable information they need to properly diagnosis STIs and improve patient care,” Uwe Oberlaender, Roche’s head of molecular diagnostics, said in a statement.

The cobas 6800/8800 platform provides one of the fastest turnaround times for such molecular testing, giving labs improved operating efficiency and the flexibility to adapt to changing testing demands, the company said.

Globally, trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infections, and about 70% of people infected with it don’t experience any symptoms. According to a study cited by Roche, in 2008 there were an estimated 276.4 million cases of TVG worldwide. 

Mycoplasma genitalium has been associated with male and female urethritis, balanoposthitis, prostatitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and male and female infertility.