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testing solution for respiratory viruses. Antigen tests, while useful in cases of high viral load, show markedly reduced sensitivity at higher Ct values, meaning patients with lower viral loads – who may only be mildly symptomatic yet still infectious – may be missed.11
hands-on time compared to central laboratory testing methods.14
The test can be performed
by healthcare professionals at any time of day, potentially improving bed management and patient care.14
Although the initial
outlay for implementing a POC PCR pathway may appear more expensive than traditional laboratory testing, the wider system impact tells a different story. Routine POC PCR testing for respiratory viruses was shown to significantly reduce the time to results, isolation resource use and direct costs for inpatients compared to conventional PCR.12
When these operational and
clinical efficiencies are considered, the overall benefits have been shown to outweigh the initial investment.12
Crucially, receiving positive results
in a matter of hours can enable faster isolation and cohorting decisions, helping IPC teams to intervene early and limit onward transmission.
Advanced POC solutions Just as viruses evolve, diagnostic testing strategies need to continuously improve to address changing healthcare demands. For example, multiplex PCR assays are now considered important tools for improving the efficiency of diagnostics. Solutions such as the Xpert® Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus test – which runs on the GeneXpert® system – enable the simultaneous detection of multiple respiratory pathogens from a single sample, reducing the need for multiple swabs and simplifying the workflow in busy emergency and urgent care settings. This test can provide fast and accurate detection and differentiation in just 36 minutes, allowing fast infection control decisions to be made. Studies have demonstrated that this multiplex PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, and RSV can achieve high diagnostic
accuracy in POC environments – comparable to laboratory tests13 rapidly.
– while delivering results more
Importantly, this assay has been designed to account for viral evolution. The Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus test amplifies and detects unique sequences in three SARS-CoV-2, three influenza A, two influenza B and two RSV genes, helping to avoid the chance of variants evading detection. This broad genetic coverage aims to reduce the risk of false negatives and supports continued reliability across successive respiratory seasons, helping healthcare providers remain responsive to an evolving infectious disease landscape. Expanding POC infectious disease testing
beyond respiratory viruses is also incredibly important to help to alleviate the burden of other diseases. Tests such as the Xpert® Norovirus from Cepheid, which detects both genotype I and genotype II in around an hour,* can now be performed in decentralised settings, greatly improving the time to results and reducing
With results comparable to
laboratory quality, healthcare workers can feel confident that their isolation and cohorting decisions are consistent and evidence based, even when pressures are at their peak.
Ensuring ease of use and connectivity
POC PCR instruments must be designed for use outside traditional laboratory environments. Systems need to be compact enough to fit into constrained clinical spaces, while remaining robust, reliable and connected. In many settings, testing may be performed by frontline healthcare staff, so workflows must be intuitive – with clear prompts and easy to interpret results – and integrate seamlessly into existing clinical processes. Connectivity is also essential, enabling secure integration with laboratory information systems and allowing oversight, quality control and standardisation across departments or multiple sites. This ensures decentralised testing can be delivered without compromising governance or clinical quality. The GeneXpert system with Touchscreen helps bring laboratory-standard diagnostics closer to the patient. The system is designed to be extremely compact, eliminating the need for a laptop that would occupy additional bench space and making it easy to implement wherever it is needed. Its intuitive display allows users to visualise results clearly – including amplification data where required – to support rapid interpretation and confident decision-making. By combining ease of operation with robust connectivity to laboratory and POC information systems – including interface options for HL7, ASTM and POCT1A2 CLSI communication standards – modern PCR platforms such as this provide diagnostics at the POC, while maintaining consistency and control across healthcare networks. The Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus and Xpert Norovirus tests can be used on this system in decentralised settings, helping to ensure strong frontline diagnostics and infection control for these highly contagious viruses.
Modernising infectious disease diagnostics Rising demand, constrained resources and unpredictable seasonal outbreaks mean healthcare systems must diagnose infectious diseases faster and more accurately than ever. Respiratory viruses and norovirus continue to place significant strain on urgent and emergency care, making timely detection
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I April 2026
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