The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continues to play a leading role in supporting the roll-out of a rapid diagnostic test for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), the Cepheid Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (GeneXpert®). GeneXpert® is a revolutionary diagnostic tool that can rapidly and accurately detect TB resistance to rifampin, one of the most potent drugs used in the treatment of TB. Greater access to this test boosts healthcare workers' ability to diagnose TB quickly, especially DR-TB and TB associated with HIV, and helps reduce TB transmission and premature TB deaths.

Recently, Cepheid unveiled its new model, GeneXpert® Omni, which is the world's most portable point-of-care diagnostic test. This small, lightweight device provides increased access to rapid, accurate, and potentially life-saving TB testing in some of the most remote areas of the world. The GeneXpert® Omni is battery-operated, wireless, and web-enabled, allowing instrument and test information to be transmitted in real time. The GeneXpert® Omni is expected to substantially extend the reach of GeneXpert® technology by enabling reliable testing for life-threatening conditions, including TB, DR-TB, HIV, and Ebola. Due to the portable nature of the device, this testing can be conducted on demand at the patient's location, as opposed to a centralized healthcare facility.

The development of the GeneXpert® Omni, which utilizes the same cartridge-based system as the original GeneXpert® model, is an important step toward enabling universal access to high-quality diagnostics for people in the developing world.

For more:

Cepheid GeneXpert® Omni Press Release

2-pound DNA-reader could help fight Ebola, TB, HIV – Fortune

Photo credit: Michael Tran