NEWS
Roche finalises LumiraDx POC acquisition
Roche has recently announced the completion of the acquisition of LumiraDx’s point-of-care technology, following the receipt of all required antitrust and regulatory clearances. Roche will now embark on the full integration of the company’s innovative multi-assay point of care platform and the related R&D, operational and commercial sites into its global organisation. Through this acquisition, Roche complements its diagnostics portfolio with a simple-to-use platform that consolidates a wide range of immunoassay and clinical chemistry tests on a single instrument, with the future potential to expand into molecular testing. The innovative solution will allow Roche to further expand its offering in decentralised patient care and drive global access to timely and actionable diagnostic results.
“Access to diagnostic testing is critical for the delivery of healthcare worldwide and we are confident that the LumiraDx platform and technology will help us expand the availability of testing, especially in settings such as primary care and low- and middle-income countries,” said Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics. Veronique Ameye, Chief Executive Officer of LumiraDx, added: “We are absolutely delighted to continue our journey as part of Roche Diagnostics. Being an integral part of the Roche network opens the door to realising the full potential of our point-of-care technology, and to increasing patient access to community-based healthcare around the world. We look forward to writing the next chapter in our shared efforts to deliver even greater impact for patients.”
Roche announced the signing of its
agreement to acquire LumiraDx’s Point of Care technology at the end of 2023.
EDITOR’S COMMENT Time for a bonus
A special bonus for readers this month as not only do you have the September issue of Pathology in Practice, but also a special point-of-care testing supplement, supporting this month’s POCT Innovators’ Clinical Diagnostics Expo event.
The supplement is designed to support this event of course, but also to live beyond it, with informative articles and an exhibitor listing which doubles up as a guide to the main players in this area. Also in this issue – and following last month’s ‘Literature update’ on the Bordetella pertussis infection which causes it – Neil Bentley looks at whooping cough, its features, presentation, diagnosis and treatment, as well as the factors behind its current resurgence. Another timely feature takes a look at how Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has transformed the service it offers to GPs and patients for phlebotomy appointments by deploying two key innovative technologies that make the whole process paperless. A feature that I’m particularly pleased to bring you this month looks at recent improvements and enhancements at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories. Part of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it has recently added a molecular pathology area to its site at the Royal Liverpool Hospital building. The building opened as recently as 2022, and
it has allowed LCL to expand significantly. The new molecular area, constructed with the help of Roche, boasts integration and automation aplenty, with which it can deliver huge benefits to the Trust’s patients. Fresh from celebrating its tenth anniversary last year, LCL is now equipped for the next ten years and beyond. Further insights in this issue come from Stephen MacDonald and his continuing series on measurement uncertainty (MU); this issue looking at reporting and reviewing MU, including when and how reviews should be undertaken, and the appropriate measures to take as a result. We also have a detailed report from the always-valuable Clinisys Customer Summit, which heard from a variety of learned voices over two days at The Belfry, covering such subjects as how technology can help overcome the many current challenges in pathology, an update on UKAS ISO 15189:2022, antimicrobial resistance, and how healthcare and pathology services can tackle growing demand with limited resources. With that I’m looking forward to the Clinical Diagnostics Expo – keep up to date with the latest news via our website, and if you’re able to make the event on 16 September in London, then it comes highly recommended. See more details and register at
www.POCTInnovators.com.
andymyall@pathologyinpractice.com
UKHSA warns of rising antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea cases
New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has highlighted a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections in England. In 2023, over 85,000 gonorrhoea diagnoses were reported in England, the highest number since records began in 1918. While the infection can usually be easily treated, some strains are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and are harder to treat.
A type that poses a particular threat is ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea. Ceftriaxone is the ‘first line’ antibiotic used to treat gonorrhoea in this country and so resistance to the drug can make treatment difficult, especially for gonorrhoea infections in the throat.
Between June 2022 and May 2024, 15 ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM SEPTEMBER 2024
cases were detected in England, including five that were found to be extensively drug-resistant (resistant to both first- and second-line treatment options and to other antibiotics). Since the first case was detected in England in 2015, there have now been a total of 31 ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases, seven of which were extensively drug- resistant. To date, all detected cases have been among heterosexual individuals, mostly in their 20s, and most acquired the infection abroad. There has been limited transmission within England, but the increasing number of cases in recent years is concerning as it increases the chance of wider spread and treatment challenges.
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