QIAGEN has commercially launched QIAsymphony Connect, an IVD-compliant platform for automated clinical nucleic acid extraction. The new platform builds on the established QIAsymphony system and supports diverse clinical assay workflows. The platform aims to help clinical laboratories improve workflow consistency and productivity. It also strengthens sample traceability and process safety during automated nucleic acid extraction.
QIAsymphony Connect builds on more than 3,300 cumulative placements of the QIAsymphony platform worldwide. In addition, laboratories can continue using the same QIAsymphony kits and consumables. As a result, existing customers can transition to the new platform with fewer workflow changes. The platform also supports high-growth applications, including liquid biopsy, oncology and infectious disease diagnostics.
“Clinical laboratories need automation solutions that combine proven extraction performance with the standardization, traceability and productivity needed for today’s molecular testing workflows,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Portfolio & Innovation at QIAGEN. “The commercial launch of QIAsymphony Connect reflects our continued investment in automated sample preparation and strengthens our Sample to Insight portfolio by helping laboratories improve consistency and efficiency across clinical molecular testing.”
QIAGEN has also completed important regulatory milestones for the new platform. The company completed the FDA listing in the United States.
Furthermore, QIAGEN completed the EUDAMED listing in Europe for QIAsymphony Connect. These milestones support the platform’s wider commercial availability.
Advancing Clinical Molecular Testing Workflows
QIAsymphony Connect designed for routine clinical molecular testing and automated laboratory workflows The platform combines guided workflow functionality with embedded automation. The extraction process is automated in a standardized workflow together with the liquid handling. It also employs pre-filled IVD reagent cartridges for routine testing Automated load checks also help to ensure correct workflow setup before processing. Meanwhile, the guided workflow setup helps to reduce variability between individual operators. This enables laboratories to use standardized walkaway workflows with less hands-on time. These features also facilitate reproducible nucleic acid extraction for routine clinical use.
Automated barcode reading for primary sample tubes and eluates is available on the platform. This allows better identification of the sample throughout the whole extraction process. Processing itself also generates audit trails, capturing workflow information. Additional onboard process controls support process safety and full sample traceability. These capabilities allow labs to continuously improve the management of molecular testing workflows. They also facilitate reliable handling of the samples from the initial input to the final eluate.
High-Throughput extraction of nucleic acids
The QIAsymphony Connect can run up to 96 samples in 4 separate batches. This capacity supports routine lab productivity and high volume molecular testing. The platform is based on a novel bead collection and elution method. This approach allows delivery of highly concentrated DNA and RNA for sensitive downstream applications. Sample volumes are on the order of a few microliters to 10 mL. This flexibility allows the laboratories to adjust to different sample needs in their molecular testing workflows.
Importantly the platform lends itself to use in liquid biopsy applications. Liquid biopsy is the analysis of circulating blood samples for tumor-derived material. Such samples may include molecular targets present in low abundance that need to be detected with sensitivity. Thus, efficient nucleic acid extraction is an important part of the liquid biopsy workflow. Additional applications for oncology and infectious disease are supported by QIAsymphony Connect. These capabilities make the platform useful for a number of molecular testing clinical applications.
Supporting Existing and New Laboratory Customers
QIAsymphony Connect adds enhanced usability, digital connectivity and workflow standardization. However, the platform maintains backward compatibility with established QIAsymphony reagent kits and consumables. This compatibility allows laboratories to continue using their existing QIAGEN consumables. Consequently, customers can support a smoother migration to QIAsymphony Connect. The continued use of existing kits can also help reduce workflow disruption. At the same time, laboratories adopting new molecular testing applications can access enhanced workflow functions.
These improvements are intended to make routine laboratory operation easier. also help labs in setting up more standardized molecular testing procedure. QIAGEN has already received the first customer orders for QIAsymphony Connect. These orders demonstrate early customer adoption as the platform matures commercially. Early users have also identified a number of benefits from the new system. A key benefit they point out is the intuitive guided workflow setup. Users also identified comprehensive sample traceability as another key benefit. Reduced hands-on time was also seen as useful for routine clinical testing.
Consistent nucleic acid extraction across testing workflows were also reported by first users. They also said run setup was simpler for new and existing applications. To summarize, QIAsymphony Connect adds to QIAGEN’s automated sample preparation capabilities. The platform has demonstrated extraction technology and improved workflow automation. As clinical labs face a growing demand for molecular testing, automation is becoming more important. The QIAsymphony Connect addresses these needs by standardizing extraction and improving laboratory workflow management.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
