Toxoplasma Test Added to Benchtop Analyzer's Detection Portfolio

A major advance in the detection of infection by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii was marked by release of a molecular diagnostic kit for use in a sophisticated benchtop analyzer.

DiaSorin (Saluggia, Italy) has recently introduced a dedicated assay for T. gondii for use on its Liaison Iam instrument, which is based on proprietary Q-LAMP isothermal amplification technology.

This technology offers all the benefits of isothermal LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) but with the addition of real time, fluorescent, multiplexed amplification. In addition, Q-LAMP provides for single tube RNA amplification without the need for a reverse transcription step. With multiple recognition events per reaction, the DiaSorin Q-LAMP is highly specific and offers sensitivity on a par with real-time PCR. Detection of the amplified products is achieved with Q-Primers, which are labeled with a unique fluorophore that is quenched in the presence of the target sequence. The reduction of fluorescence is used to monitor the reaction and using a concept called time threshold (TT), together with known calibrators, can be used to quantify an unknown sample containing the target sequence.

All DiaSorin Q-LAMP assays are performed on a uniquely designed small footprint, bench top analyzer, the Liaison Iam analyzer. The analyzer is connected to an Iam Control Unit (ICU) via a USB interface. The ICU runs uniquely designed, simple to use software in which a graphical user interface guides the operator through a series of simple set up steps. From one to six instruments can be connected to a single ICU, allowing laboratories to start with a small number of tests and then add units as the workload or test portfolio grows.

“Iam Toxo rapidly confirms toxo infection,” said Paul Eros, global vice president molecular at DiaSorin. “The diagnostic sensitivity of the assay has been proven to be equivalent to PCR but delivers results produced in a fraction of the time that PCR requires. This assay is the latest addition to the unique and rapidly expanding DiaSorin Q-LAMP assay portfolio for our Liaison Iam molecular instrument, an easy-to-use benchtop device, which provides laboratories with a cost-effective, saleable, molecular diagnostic solution. This is a perfect solution for use in laboratory facilities of all sizes, including those that are located close to the patient.”

“DiaSorin Q-LAMP assays provide many advantages,” said Dr. Eros. “They are rapid, real-time, fluorescent, quantitative/qualitative assays designed to be used for multiplexed applications, enabling amplification and detection of multiple targets in a single reaction. Iam Toxo is a duplex fluorescent Q-LAMP assay employing primers designed to recognize a multicopy repeat region of the Toxoplasma gondii genome, common to all clinically-relevant subtypes.”

The Iam Toxo assay, when used with the Liaison Iam instrument, can be used for the detection of all clinically relevant subtypes of T. gondii in human plasma, CSF, and amniotic fluid.

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