Tricore Reference Laboratories has reported the results of its collaboration with Roche Applied Science, in which it evaluated Roche's Magna Pure 96 system for use in nucleic acid purification.
The evaluation focused on the Roche system's ability to process specimens for pathogen testing.
The fully automated Magna Pure 96 system purifies genomic DNA, viral DNA and RNA, or cellular RNA from a range of specimen types, processing 96 standard-volume specimens in less than one hour.
The instrument is said to require just a few disposables and prefilled reagents, all of which can be loaded quickly and easily as needed.
Steve Young PhD, Tricore's scientific director for infectious disease, said: 'Sensitivity and specificity are mandatory for our virology and bacteriology studies.
'Furthermore, we need the high capacity and processing speed this instrument offers to provide rapid responses during peak seasonal testing periods.'
Used by Tricore in conjunction with Roche's Lightcycler system, the Magna Pure 96's high processing capacity is said to be crucial for influenza research and for the detection of seasonal influenza A and B in respiratory specimens.
Tricore's current research studies target human cases of pandemic H1N1 2009, which is continuing to increase substantially worldwide.
Other applications of the Magna Pure 96 system at Tricore include research on group B streptococcus, a bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in newborns, and on MRSA.
