FDA clears Roche's new test for detection of CT and NG infections

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has  provided 510(k) clearance to the cobas® CT/NG Test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients from male urine and self -collected vaginal swabs.  A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based multiplex dual probe assay, the test for chlamydia and gonorrhea offers excellent sensitivity and high specificity and runs on the automated cobas 4800 System, complementing the cobas HPV (Human Papillomavirus)Test that received FDA approval in April.

"This new test will give labs in the U.S. an efficient solution for offering clinicians chlamydia and gonorrhea screening using the preferred specimen types," said Paul Brown, head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics. "Since it received CE mark in 2009, the test has been very well received by labs outside the U.S. and we are pleased to be able to offer it to the U.S. market."

Male urine and self-collected vaginal swabs are the preferred specimen types for CT and NG testing, according to the summary report from the U.S. Association of Public Health Laboratories and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The use of these specimen types is considered a progressive option for CT/NG screening, as they show high sensitivity yet are less invasive and less painful to collect than urethral or endocervical samples and thus may help promote screening compliance.  The registrational trial for the cobas CT/NG test also confirmed that self-collected vaginal specimens and male urine specimens provide increased sensitivity and specificity when compared with alternative specimen types across patient populations with both low and high disease prevalence.

"This test will contribute to lowering the burden of disease by providing accurate results from easy to obtain samples – self-collected vaginal swabs from women and first catch urine from males.  Allowing patients to be active participants in maintaining their health will encourage screening and facilitate clinic flow," said Dr. Barbara Van der Pol, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Indiana University School of Public Health.

The introduction of the new test expands the menu for the cobas 4800 System and enables laboratories to combine the cobas CT/NG Test and the cobas HPV Test onto a single platform.  In addition to the current assays that focus on women's health, Roche is developing tests for the cobas 4800 System menu in the areas of microbiology and oncology.